SAN DIEGO – Despite five first quarter goals, the University of Hawaii water polo team fell to UC San Diego 10-9 to open the 2021 season. 

The Rainbow Wahine got goals from seven different players and were up 5-2 at the end of the first period, but a 3-goal second quarter from the Tritons and two from the Wahine made it a 7-5 game at halftime. Singular goals from UH in the third and fourth quarter allowed UCSD back into the game. 

Hawaii had a chance to go up a goal in the fourth quarter on a penalty shot, but a save from Triton goalie Bennett Bugelli thwarted the effort. 

Redshirt junior Lalelei Mata'afa and freshman Lucia Gomez de la Puenta each scored a pair of goals in the game but their efforts were not enough as the team as a whole shot .281 on the game compared to UCSD's .417. 

The two teams play again on Thursday at 4 p.m. HT in San Diego.