HONOLULU — A second-half surge powered the fourth-ranked University of Hawai'i water polo team to a 9-5 win over No. 5 Fresno State in the finale of the Rainbow Invitational on Saturday at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
The Rainbow Wahine (5-0) trailed 4-3 at halftime then scored four goals in the first 5 minutes, 13 seconds of the third quarter and went on to outscore the Bulldogs 6-1 in the second half to earn their second win over a top-five opponent this season.
Four UH players scored two goals each with junior Morgan Rios scoring twice early in the third quarter to ignite a 5-0 Rainbow Wahine run. Junior Bernadette Doyle scored twice and assisted on two more and senior Alba Bonamusa Boix and sophomore Bia Mantellato Dias also paired goals.
UH and Fresno State (6-1) went undefeated in the Polo-Palooza hosted by the Bulldogs the previous weekend in Fresno, Calif., both posting victories over then-No. 1 Stanford.
They entered Saturday's match 2-0 in the Rainbow Invitational, and UH had three shots denied early while Fresno State took a 2-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
The Bulldogs carried the shutout into the second quarter before Doyle came up with a steal, drew an exclusion then continued her charge to the net and pounded in UH's first goal of the night.
Moments later, Mantellato Dias scored from close range off an assist from Bonamusa Boix to tie the game at the 4:29 mark of the second quarter.
Caitlyn Mossman gave Fresno State the lead back at the 2:31 mark, but Bonamusa Boix fired a shot from outside to beat the shot clock and tie it up again with 19 seconds left before halftime.
Fresno State answered with a buzzer-beater of their own with Kaitlyn Howarth sending the Bulldogs into halftime with a 4-3 lead.
UH came out the break firing and Rios scored from the left side on the first possession of the third quarter. Rios struck again at the 5:56 mark of the third to give the 'Bows their first lead of the game.
Doyle lofted a pass to Mantellato Dias in front of the net to set up a score, and added another goal of her own when she fired a shot from the top to push the UH lead to 7-4.
Bonamusa Boix extended the run 58 seconds into the fourth quarter with her second goal of the game. Fresno State scored its first goal of the second half at the 6:18 mark of the fourth quarter but Roni Perlman answered for UH from the right side and the 'Bows finished off a perfect weekend at home.
UH will head back on the road to compete in the Triton Invitational set for Feb. 2-4 in La Jolla, Calif. The Rainbow Wahine will face San Diego State in its tournament opener on Feb. 2.
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