Scoresheet (Southern Cal) | Scoresheet (UC Irvine)

IRVINE, Calif. – The No. 7 University of Hawai'i water polo team (8-6) fell in both matches on the second day of the 2017 Barbara Kalbus Invitational, dropping matches to both No. 2 Southern Cal (15-0) and No. 6 UC Irvine (9-5) at the UC Irvine Aquatic Center.  

In the opener vs. USC, Ionna Haralabidis netted the first goal of the morning, putting the Trojans up 1-0. Rainbow Wahine sophomore Carla Abellan and redshirt junior Chloe Barr countered with back-to-back goals to give Hawai'i a 2-1 advantage. However, Stephania Haralabidis found the back of the net for USC to even the score two-all at the end of the first period.

USC's offense quickly heated up, notching three goals in the second period. Rainbow Wahine redshirt senior Gabi Mantellato kept the 'Bows in the match on her lone goal, the 'Bows facing a 3-5 margin at halftime.

The Rainbow Wahine were held scoreless until the final minute of the third period, while the Trojans rattled off another three goals. Hawai'i senior Nikki-Marie Bell recorded her lone goal at the 1:01 mark of the third to cut USC's lead in half, 4-8.

Rainbow Wahine redshirt junior Claire Nixon notched the final Hawai'i goal of the morning, but USC netted four more in the final period. The 'Bows fell to the Trojans with a final margin of 5-12.

Scoring by Quarters
Southern Cal:    2                3               3               4
Hawai'i:                  2               1               1               1
USC Scoring: I. Haralabidis 4, S. Haralabidis 2, Games 2, Daboub 1, Peterson 1, McIntosh 1, Fahey 1
UH Scoring: Carla Abellan 1, Chloe Barr 1, Nikki-Marie Bell 1, Gabi Mantellato 1, Claire Nixon 1

Returning for the afternoon match, the Rainbow Wahine faced tournament hosts and conference foe UC Irvine. Hawai'i defeated the Anteaters earlier this season, but fell to the future Big West opponent, 9-8, in a back-and-forth battle.

Sophomore Femke Aan quickly got Hawai'i on the board within the first minute of action. UCI responded after a few scoreless minutes, netting consecutive goals to go up by one. Nixon answered to even the score at two-all to end the first period.

The Anteaters' offense recorded three more goals in the second period, while holding the Rainbow Wahine to a single goal, which came courtesy of sophomore Irene Gonzalez. The 'Bows faced a 5-3 deficit at the end of the first half.

UCI connected on a goal to open the second half, extending their lead to three. The Rainbow Wahine responded with back-to-back goals via Nixon and Barr, shaving the deficit down to one at the end of the third period.

The fourth quarter saw a back-and-forth exchange of goals with both squads recording three each. Barr, Nixon and Aan tried to push Hawai'i over the Anteaters, all netting one goal apiece in the period. However, UCI's three goals kept the Rainbow Wahine at an arm's length, defeating the 'Bows, 9-8.

Hawai'i returns tomorrow morning for a match against No. 8 Michigan at 7:00 a.m. HT at the UC Irvine Aquatic Center.

Scoring by Quarters
UC Irvine:              2               3               1               3
Hawai'i:                  2               1               2               3
UCI Scoring: Brooks 3, Thornton 3, Milham 1, Mitchell 1, Shockley 1
UH Scoring: Claire Nixon 3, Femke Aan 2, Chloe Barr 2, Irene Gonzalez 1