IRVINE, Calif. - Achieving all the tension commanded by a tournament championship match, the top-seeded University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine water polo team (21-5) fell to the second-seeded UC Irvine Anteaters in a triple overtime sudden-death heartbreaker on Sunday in the Big West Championships at UC Irvine's Anteater Aquatic Complex. Sophomore Elyse Lemay-Lavoie and senior Chloe Barr led the Rainbow Wahine with two goals apiece. 

Defense remained the calling card for both coaches throughout the match, a championship tilt that saw five lead changes and five ties. UC Irvine's gritty defense held Hawai'i to just seven goals, a team that averages 11.5 goals per game.

The match and the title was decided in the closing seconds of sudden death overtime after the score remained tied from the end of the fourth quarter to force three extra periods.

The Rainbow Wahine got off to another fast-paced start on an opening-quarter advantage. Sophomore Maartje Keuning connected on Hawai'i's first possession, and juniors Irene Gonzalez and Femke Aan each added one goal to carry UH to a 3-1 lead at the end of the first. UC Irvine's Julie Swieca found the back of net to keep the advantage at two scores. However, both teams amped up their defensive intensity and produced a fully scoreless second quarter. Hawai'i had its opportunities, hitting the post three times. 

The Anteaters came out of halftime firing away, as Tara Prentice, Corinna Toledo and Allie Loomis netted three straight goals to claim a 4-3 advantage with 2:45 left in the third. Nevertheless, Barr put her leadership on display, scoring four seconds later (2:41) to even things up at 4-all. Loomis and Barr would trade goals to finish the third period and keep the game tied at five.

Entering the final period of regulation, Lemay-Lavoie came up big for the Rainbow Wahine, scoring at the 5:30 mark off an assist by Gonzalez. However, once again Prentice evened the score on the match's fourth tie. Lemay-Lavoie added pressure again, grabbing a rebound and netting another to grant the Rainbow Wahine a 7-6 lead with 3:58 remaining. The final minute of the fourth proved crucial, as UCI's Megan Falcon found the back of the net to tie the game with 43 seconds on the clock.

Neither Hawai'i nor UC Irvine were budging in the first two overtimes, locked in a stalemate. Each team had power play scoring opportunities but no team could convert. 

In triple overtime and sudden death, Hawai'i had their golden opportunity as Barr drew an exclusion but could not secure the goal. In the ensuing Anteater possession, Cara Borkovec connected on the golden goal with 17 seconds remaining in the period.

Freshman goalie Molly DiLalla recorded her career-high with 17 saves, tying the school record for most saves in a match by a UH goalie.

Vying for an at-large bid to the tournament, the Rainbow Wahine will await the selection committee's decision until Monday's 2:00 p.m. HT NCAA Selection Show on NCAA.com.
 

2018 Big West Championship Game April 29, 2018  |  Anteater Aquatic Complex (Irvine, Calif.)
Scoring by Quarters
#2 UCI (14-13)	1	0	4	2	0	1		8
#1 Hawai'i (21-5)	3	0	2	2	0	0		7
UCI Scoring: Allie Loomis (2), Tara Prentice (2), Cara Borkovec (1), Megan Falcon (1), Julie Swieca (1), Corinna Toledo (1)
UH Scoring: Chloe Barr (2), Elyse Lemay-Lavoie (2), Irene Gonzalez (1), Femke Aan (1), Maartje Keuning (1)

If Hawai'i is selected, the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championships will be held in Los Angeles, Calif., from May 11-13.