Box Score

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The No. 8 University of Hawai'i women's water polo team opened the 2014 Big West Tournament with a close 7-6 win over UC Davis Friday afternoon at the Long Beach State Campus Pool. With the opening round win, UH advances to the tournament semifinals where they will meet No. 2 seed Cal State Northridge on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. PT (12:15 p.m. HT).
 
The No. 3 seed Rainbow Wahine (18-9) played a tight match against sixth-seeded UC Davis (12-18), similar to the battle the teams waged two weeks ago in Honolulu. UH won that regular-season meeting, 5-4, and again held off a feisty Aggie squad in the closing moments.
 
UH built a 4-1 lead at halftime. However, UCD, cut the deficit to just one on four occasions after the break, including twice in the fourth quarter. With UH holding a 7-6 advantage, UC Davis had an opportunity in the final minute to tie the game. But as in their first meeting, the UH defense stepped up and were able to hold off UC Davis' last-ditch attempt to preserve the lead and notch the team's fifth consecutive win.
 
Offensively, UH was led by the two top scorers on the team, Danielle Lewis and Paula Chillida Esforzado, who each scored two goals. Emily Carr, Zoe Respondek, and Claire Nixon also found the back of the net.
 
The Rainbow Wahine continue its quest to repeat as Big West Tournament champs when they take on Cal State Northridge on Saturday. UH also looks to avenge a 9-8 overtime loss to the Matadors earlier this season.
  
Hawai'i 7, UC Davis 6
April 25, 2013
Long Beach, Calif.
 Scoring By Period
UCD   1          0          3          2          =          6
UH      3          1          2          1          =          7
 
UCD Scoring: Keelia Houston (2), Allyson Hansen (2), Carla Tocchini (1), Hannah Curran (1)
UH Scoring: Danielle Lewis (2), Paula Chillida Esforzado (2), Emily Carr (1), Zoe Respondek (1), Claire Nixon (1)
Saves: UCD- Jillian Wilding (3); UH - Amy Carlson (2)