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Libby Gault pass
JEFF LIANG
9
Hawai'i HAW (21-6, 6-1)
10
Winner UC Irvine UCI (20-6, 7-0)
Hawai'i HAW
(21-6, 6-1)
9
Final
10
UC Irvine UCI
(20-6, 7-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT OT F
Hawai'i HAW 1 1 2 2 1 2 9
UC Irvine UCI 2 1 3 0 3 1 10

Game Recap: Women's Water Polo |

Water Polo Falls To UC Irvine In Overtime Of Big West Title Match

SANTA BARBARA, Calif  -- The  University of Hawai'i women's water polo's quest for a Big West Championship trophy came to a heartbreaking end with a 10-9 overtime loss to UC Irvine in the title match Sunday at the UCSB Campus Pool.

UH (21-6) rallied from a three-goal deficit in the second half to force overtime, but the Anteaters out-lasted the Rainbow Wahine in the final two extra periods to defend its 2022 tournament title. It was a bitter loss for UH which lost to the Anteaters (20-6) by the slimmest of  margins for the second time in a two-week span. 

Airian Grishma scored three goals and added two assists, while tournament MVP Erin Tharp tallied 14 saves to lead the Anteaters (21-6) who gained an automatic bid to the NCAAs. Bia Mantellato Dias, Lot Stertefeld and Jordan Wedderburn each scored two goals for UH and Bridget Layburn tallied 11 saves. 

Meeting for the fifth straight time in the Big West title game, the squads engaged in another epic battle.  It was an intense defensive contest for most of the way. UCI held a slim 3-2 lead at intermission with neither team converting much on the offensive end. UH was just 2-of-11 from the field and UCI just 3-of-15 in the first half. 

The Anteaters enjoyed its biggest lead, 6-3, in the waning seconds of the third quarter. But UH got a goal from Libby Gault at the third quarter buzzer to gain some much-needed momentum. The 'Bow then scored two more goals in the fourth quarter, while holding the Anteaters scoreless to force overtime. The 'Bows actually had a chance to win the match in regulation, but Tharp denied Matellato Dias' attempt as time expired. 

UCI jumped out to a two-goal lead in overtime, however UH hung tough and pulled within one goal, 10-9, on a Lucia Gomez de la Puente score with 1:24 left in the second OT. The 'Bows ultimately had two more chances to tie the match in the final minute but Gault's attempt with 41 seconds was denied, while Stertefeld's shot with just four ticks left sailed high. 

UH, currently ranked fifth nationally, will await its postseason fate with the NCAA Selection Show slated for Monday, May 1 at 2:00 p.m. HT on NCAA.com. 
 
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