LONG BEACH - The second-seeded University of Hawai'i women's water polo team captured its third Big West Championship in school history after toppling top-seeded UC Irvine, 7-6, on Sunday at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center on the campus of Long Beach State University.
Elyse Lemay-Lavoie produced her eighth hat-trick of season to guide UH to the championship.
With the win, the Rainbow Wahine (18-5) earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament held in Stanford, Calif., on May 10-12. They will make their first appearance since the 2015 season.
Senior All-American
Irene Gonzalez was named Tournament MVP after scoring six goals in the semifinals and once in the Championship Game.
In the opening period, the Anteaters (19-7) scored in the first goal of the game before the Rainbow Wahine poured in three straight goals from
Elyse Lemay-Lavoie (2) and Gonzalez (1). The Anteaters responded, connecting on a late goal to close the frame.
As the second period started, UC Irvine strung together a pair of goals to take a 4-3 advantage at the 5:32 mark. In the ensuing UH possession, freshman
Maxine Schaap skipped in a goal to stop a 3-0 scoring run by the Anteaters.
With the score knotted at four-apiece, Hawai'i started the third period looking to make a statement on both ends of the pool. Defensively, the Rainbow Wahine blanked the Anteaters in the period, holding them to 0-7 shooting. UH took full advantage as Lemay-Lavoie zipped in her third goal of the game, while
Carmen Baringo and
Femke Aan each tallied one goal.
In the final eight minutes, the Anteaters put through one goal to keep the 'Bows in reach. On UC Irvine's last possession, they fired a late shot but Layburn's save sealed the Hawai'i victory.
In the cage,
Molly DiLalla got the start in the first half, recording six saves and five goals against, while freshman
Bridget Layburn, put together 10 saves and one goal against in second half action.
The Rainbow Wahine will find out their opponent as the NCAA selection show will be broadcasted on NCAA.com on Monday, April 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. HT).
