LA JOLLA, Calif. — The No. 5 University of Hawai'i water polo team completed a thrilling comeback to defeat No. 7 Fresno State 11-10 in overtime to earn the 500th win in program history to open the second day of the Triton Invitational on Saturday in La Jolla, Calif.
UH advanced to face No. 3 USC in the semifinal round and fell to the Trojans 17-9 to split the doubleheader. The Rainbow Wahine (6-2) will close the weekend by taking on Big West rival UC Irvine in the third-place match on Sunday at 12:10 p.m. Pacific Time (10:10 Hawai'i Time) at Triton Pool.
No. 5 Hawai'i 11, No. 7 Fresno State 10 (OT)
Ema Vernoux and Jordan Wedderburn paved the way for UH offensively with three goals each and Roni Perlman scored the deciding goal with 1:53 left in overtime. Bernadette Doyle led the 'Bows defensively, snagging four steals to match a career high. Daisy Logtens went the distance in goal, recording a season-high 11 saves.
The Bulldogs got off to a fast start, outscoring the Rainbow Wahine 6-2 in the first quarter. Vernoux and Stevilyn Griffin each netted a goal to get UH on the board.
Both offenses were quiet in the second quarter with the lone goal coming from Fresno State's Abbey Simshauser on a power play, and the 'Bows faced a five-goal deficit heading into halftime.
UH's offense came to life in the third quarter scoring four goals and surrendering just two to cut Fresno State's lead to 8-6. Wedderburn spraked a scoring run with a goal at the 7:08 mark of the quarter. The Rainbow Wahine capitalized on two power-play opportunities in the span of one minute and five seconds with scores from Vernoux and Wedderburn. The Bulldogs netted a goal on a power play shortly thereafter, but the 'Bows responded with a goal from Gabrielle Doyle 10 seconds later. Fresno State tacked on one more goal to give the Bulldogs a two-goal lead after 24 minutes.
The Rainbow Wahine claimed their first lead of the afternoon after a 3-0 scoring run beginning at the 2:50 mark of the fourth period. Wedderburn jump started the scoring run again, earning a hat-trick with her third goal of the contest. Alia Burlock scored her first goal of the match and Camille Radosavljevic scored the go-ahead goal to give the 'Bows a 9-8 lead. With 55 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs converted on a penalty shot sending the match into overtime.
The 'Bows opened the extra period with a penalty shot goal from Vernoux and UH reclaimed the lead. Logtens made a clutch save on a penalty shot to help UH keep the lead heading into the second overtime period.
Fresno State scored to tie the game at 10-10 early in the second overtime period, but Perlman answered with a goal on a power-play opportunity with 1:53 left in overtime. The 'Bows did not allow another score after Burlock's goal, to secure their fifth consecutive win.
No. 3 USC 17, No. 5 Hawai'i 9
Sisters Bernadette Doyle and Gabrielle Doyle led the way for the Rainbow Wahine against the Trojans. Bernadette Doyle tied a season-high with four goals and Gabrielle Doyle led the team defensively with three steals. Daisy Logtens started at goalie and recorded seven saves.
The Trojans started the game on a 5-0 scoring run before UH got on board with a goal from Bernadette Doyle on a power play. USC found the back of the net with one second left to push their lead back to five.
The Rainbow Wahine were outscored 7-3 in the second quarter and faced a 13-4 deficit going into halftime. Bernadette Doyle earned a hat-trick netting two goals in the quarter and Perlman scored her first goal of the match.
Bernadette Doyle scored her fourth goal of the match at the 6:08 mark of the third quarter followed by a score from Wedderburn. UH surrendered two more goals and the Trojan lead remained at nine.
Camille Radosavljevic, Vernoux and Gabirelle Doyle each found the back of the net in the final quarter of play, but the deficit was too much to overcome and the 'Bows now sit at 6-2 on the season.
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