Scoresheet

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – The No. 7 University of Hawai'i water polo team opened the first day of the 2017 Barbara Kalbus Invitational with a victory over No. 11 Pacific, 9-7, on Friday afternoon at the Corona del Mar pool in Newport Beach, Calif.

The Rainbow Wahine (8-4) defeated the Tigers (5-5) for the second time this season, already notching a 14-9 win against them in the season opener. Hawai'i senior Nikki-Marie Bell and redshirt junior Chloe Barr paced the offense with three goals each, while junior goalkeeper Ymane Hage tallied nine saves on the defensive end.

Pacific's Kyra Christmas put the Tigers on the board first at the 6:35 mark of the first period. Hawai'i's Barr responded on the next play, connecting for a penalty goal to even the score, 1-1. Rachel Krieger pushed Pacific back up by one, but the 'Bows countered with consecutive goals via sophomore Femke Aan and Bell to give Hawai'i a 3-2 lead at the end of the first period.

Pacific's Viktoria Szmodics knotted the score at three-all to open the second period. Bell responded on the next play for the 'Bows, but Christmas followed with her second goal to even the score again. Hawai'i and Pacific were locked in a four-all tie going into halftime.

The Rainbow Wahine found some offensive rhythm in the third, outscoring the Tigers 4-1 in the period. Hawai'i redshirt senior Gabi Mantellato opened the period with her lone goal to push the 'Bows up one, but Szmodics answered with her second, knotting the score for the third time. The Rainbow Wahine then launched a three-goal run via Barr, Aan and Bell to give Hawai'i an 8-5 advantage going into the fourth.

Pacific tried to launch a late rally in the fourth, netting two goals from Truly Dorland and Mariana Duarte. However, Barr found the back of the net for her final goal of the afternoon to seal the Hawai'i victory, 9-7.

The Rainbow Wahine will open the second day of tournament play on Saturday, Feb. 25 against No. 2 USC at 8:30 a.m. HT at the UC Irvine Aquatic Center. Depending on the outcome of that match, Hawai'i will return for the second match of the day with the chances of facing UCLA, UC Irvine or San Diego State at either 2 p.m. HT or 3:15 p.m. HT.

Scoring by Quarters:
Hawai'i:                  3               1               4               1 
Pacific:                   2               2               1               2
Hawai'i Scoring: Chloe Barr 3, Nikki-Marie Bell 3, Femke Aan 2, Gabi Mantellato 1
Pacific Scoring: Kyra Christmas 2, Viktoria Szmodics 2, Turly Dorland 1, Mariana Duarte 1, Rachel Krieger 1