TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 6 University of Hawai'i water polo team (5-1) showed up strong to open action at the ASU Cross Conference Challenge, producing a two-game sweep on Saturday at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Complex. The Rainbow Wahine started the day with an upset victory over host No. 5 Arizona State (4-1), later coming out on top in a defensive shootout against No. 16 UC San Diego (2-4).
 
Match 1: No. 5 Arizona State
The first match's opening stanza was fraught with lead changes after senior Claire Nixon knocked down the match's first score. After first-semester rookie Elyse Lemay-Lovoie countered Arizona State's final lead with her first score of the morning, junior Femke Aan added a key goal to grant Hawai'i the 4-3 advantage to end the quarter.
 
As the Sun Devils focused on stopping junior Irene Gonzalez, it was Lemay-Lovoie who completely took over the match. The Montréal, Québec freshman center reeled off three more goals across a three-minute stretch to boost the UH advantage to 7-3, producing her second hat trick in only her second career appearance.
 
Senior Chloe Barr capped off the first-half scoring for the Rainbow Wahine, who outscored the Sun Devils 5-1 in the second quarter to lead 9-4 at the half. Hawai'i shot 52.9 percent in the first half, converting on their first four power plays.
 
As strong as Hawai'i was on offense in the first half, the weight laid on the defense in the second. Arizona State locked up shooting lanes and held UH to just 1-of-16 in the second half, the lone Rainbow Wahine goal coming via Gonzalez in the third.
 
Although Lena Mihailovic trimmed the lead to a single goal with 13 seconds remaining, the UH advantage was too much for the second half Arizona State comeback, as the Rainbow Wahine survived for the 10-9 upset, breaking ASU's perfect 4-0 record.
 
Lemay-Lavoie led all scorers with four goals, while Aan and Gonzalez each scored twice. In the cage, senior Ymane Hage recorded six saves and three steals to preserve the tournament-opening win.

 

ASU Cross Conference Challenge
February 3, 2018  |  Mona Plummer Aquatic Complex (Tempe, Ariz.)
Scoring by Quarters
#6 Hawai'i (4-1)	4	5	1	0	- 10
#5 Arizona State (4-1)	3	1	3	2	- 9
UH Scoring: Elyse Lemay-Lavoie (4), Femke Aan (2), Irene Gonzalez (2), Chloe Barr (1), Carmen Baringo (1), Claire Nixon (1)
ASU Scoring: Alkistis Benekou (2), Kayla Casas (2), Maud Koopman (2), Peggy-Jean Allin (1), Lena Mihailovic (1),  Julia Reyes (1)

 







Match 2: No. 16 UC San Diego
The second outing of the day swung more to the defensive end, as sophomore Maartje Keuning and Lemay-Lavoie led UH to a 2-1 first-quarter advantage over the Tritons. After nearly 11 minutes without a score, Barr broke a 2-all tie and gave the Rainbow Wahine their final lead.
 
Coming out of the break, Gonzalez scored just 42 seconds into the third quarter and netted another goal at 5:05, leading UH to a shutout period and a three-goal advantage. Coming down the stretch, UH fought off UCSD's rally attempt courtesy of a trio of scores from Lemay-Levoie and Gonzalez to secure the 7-4 victory.
 
Making her third career appearance, Lemay-Lavoie again registered a hat trick, while Gonzalez tabbed two scores and six steals. Barr and Aan each registered three steals apiece. Hage made eight saves and two steals to keep the Tritons at bay.

 

ASU Cross Conference Challenge
February 3, 2018  |  Mona Plummer Aquatic Complex (Tempe, Ariz.)
Scoring by Quarters
#6 Hawai'i (5-1)	2	1	2	2	- 7
#16 UC San Diego (2-4)	1	1	0	2	- 4
UH Scoring: Elyse Lemay-Lavoie (3), Irene Gonzalez (2), Femke Aan (1), Chloe Barr (1), Maartje Keuning (1)
UCSD Scoring: Taylor Onstott (2), Kayla Fedler (1), Krista Schneider (1)

 





The Rainbow Wahine return to action on Sunday at the Cross Conference Challenge, opening the day against No. 20 Princeton at 7:00 a.m. HT, following up with a rematch against No. 21 Loyola Marymount at 11:00 a.m. HT.