La Jolla, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i water polo team split two matches Saturday at Canyonview Aquatic Center as a part of the Triton Invitational hosted by UC San Diego.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (7-1) kicked off the day with a return match against No. 9 Fresno State (3-6), coming away with an 11-8 victory and came up short later in the day, 12-8 to No. 3 UCLA (9-0) in the semifinals of the invitational. The victory against the Bulldogs is the second of the season for UH as they beat the Bulldogs on January 22^nd, 13-6, completing a season sweep. UH will have another chance against the Bruins later in the season as they'll travel to Los Angeles, California, on April 2^nd.
 
The invitational will continue into a third day as the 'Bows will play their fourth match in three days and take on Big West rival UC Irvine at 10:10 a.m. HT.
 
Match 1- #5 Hawai'i 11  #9 Fresno State 8
 
The 'Bows and Bulldogs went back and forth through the first three quarters, entering the fourth tied up at 8-8.
 
Behind the stellar efforts of freshman Bia Mantellato Dias netting two of the three goals in the final eight minutes, UH held FS scoreless, leading to their second victory in as many chances against the Golden Coast Conference powerhouse.
 
Mantellato Dias tallied her first career match with six goals, as she went a perfect six-for-six on goal, and it was her sixth match this season with multiple goals scored. In the two matches against FS, she has wracked up 10 goals.
 
Senior Alba Bonamusa Boix came through in the clutch throughout the match, picking up two goals while adding a season-high three assists.
 
As a team, UH shot .500 on the day, hitting 11-of-22. Defensively UH swiped six steals, and junior goalie Bridget Layburn picked up six saves.
 
Match 2- #3 UCLA 12  #5 Hawai'i 8
 
The first loss of the season came at the hands of the Bruins as they maintained their perfect record. UH was the first team to accumulate eight or more goals on the Bruins, and it was the first match this season. UCLA had a match decided by four goals or less.
 
UH and UCLA battled through the first half as the Bruins took a one-goal lead into the half at 5-4. UCLA added two more goals to their lead within the first 90 seconds of the third quarter, and UH worked to play catch-up the rest of the way but couldn't get over the hump.
 
Senior Olivia Kistler, junior Lucia Gomez de la Puente, and Bonamusa Boix chipped in with two goals apiece to lead the offense. Bonamusa Boix added two assists, marking her third straight match of multiple assists and her fifth consecutive match of tallying at least one goal along with at least one assist.