WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Down a goal midway through the second half, the Hawai'i women's soccer team came storming back with a pair of goals in the final 20 minutes to top UC Riverside, 2-1, Thursday at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex.
 
Bailey Faulkner and Amber Gilbert found the back of the net within 10 minutes of each other in the second half, giving the Rainbow Wahine's postseason hopes a huge boost.
 
With the win, UH (6-4-3, 3-2-3 Big West) earned three huge points in The Big West standings to move into a tie for fifth in the league with a total of 12 points. The top six teams qualify for the conference tournament.
 
After trailing 1-0 at the half, Hawai'i came out firing after the break, peppering UC Riverside goalkeeper Caela Kaio with numerous shots that were saved by the Hawai'i native. The Rainbow Wahine attempted six shots on goal in the first 20 minutes after halftime before finally breaking through in the 72^nd minute.
 
Faulkner, a graduate student, cashed in for her first goal in a Hawai'i uniform, getting one past Kaio off of the rebound of fellow senior Taylor Caporus' shot to even things up one with under 20 minutes to play. Eight minutes later, Gilbert gave the Rainbow Wahine the lead for good with a rocket from near the top of the box in the 80th minute.
 
UH's then overcame a flurry of UCR (2-7-7, 0-5-3, Big West) shots in the final minutes, the last of which was the fourth Highlander shot attempt of the match that clanged off of the frame of the goal.
 
The Highlanders got on the board first, scoring in the 15th minute as Kameron Henry scored off of an assist by Alexandra Hargrave to make it 1-0. The 'Bows avoided further damage in the opening 45 minutes, as two more UCR shot attempts hit off the crossbar, keeping the score 1-0 at the break.
 
Hawai'i had its opportunities in the first half, totaling eight shots but just two on goal. Kelci Sumida had both shots on frame, including the best Rainbow Wahine chance of the half on a header on a pass from Zoe Park that was saved in the 23rd minute.
 
Faulkner became the sixth different Rainbow Wahine player to record a goal this season with her game-tying score, while Caporus was credited with her first career assist on Faulkner's goal. Gilbert's game-winner gave her four goals on the year and 10 points, putting her in second on the team in both categories.
 
UH attempted at least 20 shots for the second-straight match, finishing with 20 led by Krista Peterson's six and Eliza Ammendolia's four. The match featured 38 total shots and six cautions, one of which was a red card given to Peterson as she picked up her second yellow card of the match.  
 
Hawai'i will wrap up the regular season home schedule Sunday against Cal State Fullerton at 4 p.m. After the match, UH will honor its nine seniors with a Senior Day ceremony.