WAIPAHU, O'ahu — The University of Hawai'i women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to UC Irvine to close out a Big West homestand on Sunday at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
 
UC Irvine's Laila El Behery scored off an assist from Alyssa Moore in the 31^st minute for the lone goal of the match and the Anteaters (4-4-3, 1-0-2 Big West) held off the Rainbow Wahine (3-4-3, 2-2-1) in the second half.
 
Despite the result, Hawai'i remains atop the Big West standings with seven points — just ahead of UC Riverside, Cal Poly and Cal State Fullerton with six — after a split of the homestand. UC Irvine, the defending Big West Tournament champion, is part of a five-team logjam with five points. 
 
UH rallied to a 4-2 win over UC San Diego on Thursday at WPSS to open the homestand and the Rainbow Wahine took 10 shots to UCI's six on Sunday. UH midfielder Brynn Mitchell took a match-high four shots, with two shots on goal.
 
UH sophomore goalkeeper Brianna Chirpich, who made her collegiate debut in last year's season finale at UC Irvine, played the entire second half after Rainbow Wahine starter Sophie Augustin was injured on the final play of the first half. Both UH goalkeepers were credited with one save. UCI's Glo Hinojosa finished with four saves.
 
UCI nearly added to the lead in the second half when a shot hit off the bottom of the crossbar and was ruled to have stayed out of the goal. The Anteaters, the defending Big West Tournament champions, protected the lead to earn their first conference victory of the season.
 
The Rainbow Wahine head back on the road this week for matches at CSU Bakersfield on Thursday and at UC Davis on Oct. 8.