LA JOLLA, Calif. — The fourth-ranked University of Hawai'i water polo team defeated a top-ranked opponent for the second time this season with a 10-6 victory over No. 1 USC in the third-place match of the Triton Invitational on Sunday at the Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla, Calif.
The Rainbow Wahine (8-1) defeated preseason No. 1 Stanford on Jan. 20 in the Fresno State Polo-Palooza. Sunday's win over USC (4-2), which entered the week at No. 1 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association Top 25, marked the first 'Bows' first win over the Trojans since April 29, 2006 and snapped UH's 27-game losing streak in the series. UH and USC will meet again on March 16 at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
"I think it's exciting for the potential for this group and what we can accomplish this season and it motivates us to see where we're at," UH coach Maureen Cole said. "There's so many places where we can still get a lot better, so to have this win early is great motivation to move forward toward our ultimate goal for our season."
The victory over the Trojans came less than 24 hours after the 'Bows dropped a 13-12 loss to No. 3 UCLA in overtime in Saturday's semifinal round.
"It was a crusher last night to lose in overtime to UCLA," Cole said, "and to come back with the energy that they had, and to battle great team and have the success they did, just super proud of them."
UH freshman goalie Daisy Logtens posted 15 saves which tied for the third most blocks in a single game in school history.
"She was stellar," Cole said. "There were a few letdowns throughout the game and she bailed us out on a number of occasions and she was awesome."
Sophomore Bia Mantellato Dias led the Rainbow Wahine offense with three goals. Mantellato Dias scored at least three goals in three of the four matchups in the Triton Invitational.
The Rainbow Wahine offense set the tone early in Sunday's top-five matchup led by Mantellato Dias. The UH center scored within the first minute of action and continued her attack scoring two more goals in the first quarter to earn herself another hat trick. Mantellato Dias now has five games with at least three goals this season. Senior Alba Bonamusa Boix posted a goal as well to give UH a 4-2 lead.
UH tacked on two more goals in the second quarter by Bonamusa Boix and junior Jordan Wedderburn to extend the 'Bows' lead to four heading into the half. The Rainbow Wahine defense was just as dominant with Logtens leading the way by not allowing any goals in the second quarter.
The 'Bows kept their momentum coming out of halftime with a goal from junior Morgan Rios just 57 seconds in to give UH its biggest lead of the day at 7-2. USC would net two goals before freshman Agatha Weston recorded her first goal of the afternoon sending the 'Bows up by four.
Senior Lucia Gomez de la Puente scored at the 5:20 mark of the fourth quarter, and was followed up by another goal by Wedderburn to ice the game. The Trojans were held to a season-low six goals and Sunday's match marked the first time since April 2021 that they scored six or fewer goals in a game. Cole highlighted UH's penalty killing as a key to the 3-1 showing in the tournament.
"This was a team effort this weekend," Cole said. "Our 5-on-6 was awesome. You're down a man, everyone has responsibilities, and you're covering for each other trying to prevent a goal when you're down, and that was really, really good this weekend. As a whole, this group works well together."
UH will have a couple of weeks to recharge before returning to action on Friday, Feb. 23 for the Barbara Kalbus Invitational in Irvine, Calif. The 'Bows will play four games in the tournament with opponents and times to be announced at a later date.
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