Scoresheet (Indiana) | Scoresheet (Southern Cal)

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The No. 5 University of Hawai'i water polo team (3-2) fell in both matches on the final day of the 2017 UCSB Winter Invitational to No. 15 Indiana (3-2), 8-5, and No. 2 Southern Cal (4-0), 13-8, Sunday morning at the Campus Pool. UH finishes the tournament with a 3-2 record.

Opening up early against Indiana, a squad headed by former UH assistant coach Ryan Castle, in a match that saw three score ties, the Rainbow Wahine led for a majority of the contest. However, a late fourth period rally by the Hoosiers pushed them past Hawai'i for the win – dealing UH its first loss of the year.

The 'Bows got on the board early in the first on a goal by senior Taylor Molde, but Indiana's Kelly Matthews netted a goal at the 1:25 mark to knot the score, 1-1, at the end of the first period.

Around two minutes into the second period, redshirt junior Gabi Mantellato broke the tied score to give UH a 2-1 advantage. Following suit, freshman Maartje Keuning found the back of the net to push UH up by two. However, Joelle Nacouzi countered on the next possession to bring the Hoosiers back within one. The 'Bows went into halftime with a 3-2 lead.

To start the third, Indiana's Matthews netted her second goal of the morning and tied the score at three-all. Sophomore Femke Aan pushed UH ahead by one on the next trip down, but Mollie Williams notched her lone goal of the match for the Hoosiers with seven seconds remaining in the third for the match's second tie.

Trying to get some offense going, redshirt junior Chloe Barr netted the final goal of the match for the 'Bows. However, the Hoosiers gained the upper hand late, launching a 4-0 run, with Matthews connecting on three consecutive goals and Nacouzi recording the last goal.

The Rainbow Wahine fell for the first time this season with a final score of 8-5.

Sunday, January 22, 2017
Santa Barbara, California (Campus Pool)

Hawai'i vs. Indiana
Scoring by Quarters:
Indiana:                  1               1               2               4
Hawai'i:                  1               2               1               1

UH Scoring: Femke Aan 1, Chloe Barr 1, Maartje Keuning 1, Gabi Mantellato 1, Taylor Molde 1
Indiana Scoring: Kelly Matthews 5, Joelle Nacouzi 2, Mollie Williams 1
 
Returning for the late morning session, the Rainbow Wahine faced their most formidable foe of the early season, defending NCAA champion No. 2 USC, who have had UH's number in the all-time series. The Trojan defense made the 'Bows stagnant for much of the match – a first this season, while USC's offense propelled them to the win.

The Trojans were a quick start, going up 2-0 within the first three minutes of action, but senior Nikki-Marie Bell got the 'Bows on the board with her first goal. The Trojans offense proved difficult to contain, notching three straight goals from Avery Peterson, I. Haralabidis and Brianna Daboub, moving out to a 5-1 lead.
Aan chipped at the USC lead as she connected for her first goal of the match, but Daboub countered on the next possession.

The squads traded goals to start the second period. Redshirt senior Claire Nixon netted a quick goal, cutting the Trojans' lead in half and Aan quickly followed. Southern California then netted two straight goals to end the first half, putting the 'Bows down five at halftime.

The Trojans' defense held the Rainbow Wahine to just one goal in the third period, chipped in by sophomore Carla Abellan, and added three goals for a 12-5 advantage.
The fourth was dominated by the 'Bows, outscoring the Trojans 3-1, with goals by Keuning and a pair from Bell, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Hawai'i fell to Southern California, 13-8.

The Rainbow Wahine will now have 11 days off before heading back out on the road to face Santa Clara on Feb. 2, ahead of the Stanford Invitational from Feb. 4-5.

Sunday, January 22, 2017
Santa Barbara, California (Campus Pool)

Scoring by Quarters:
Southern Cal:     6               3               3               1

Hawai'i:                  2               2               1               3
UH Scoring: Nikki-Marie Bell 3, Femke Aan 2, Carla Abellan 1, Claire Nixon 1, Maartje Keuning 1
Southern Cal Scoring: Ioanna Haralabidis 4, Stephania Haralabidis 3, Briana Daboub 2, Maud Megens 1, Avery Peterson 1, Nikki Stansfield 1u

 
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