LA JOLLA, Calif. — The No. 5 University of Hawai'i water polo team defeated No. 6 UC Irvine 18-17 on Sunday in a shootout that went into overtime to claim third place in the Triton Invitational in La Jolla, Calif.

Jordan Wedderburn netted a career-high seven goals — the most scored by a Rainbow Wahine player since 2023 — and Ema Vernoux scored the eventual game-winning goal at the 2:24 mark of the second overtime period. Bernadette Doyle was an all-around contributor posting three goals, three assists and three steals against the Anteaters. Daisy Logtens defended the net for all 38 minutes and recorded 14 saves. UH closed the weekend at 3-1 in the tournament and improved to 7-2 overall. 

The 'Bows opened the match capitalizing on early miscues by UC Irvine. An exclusion 40 seconds into the game led to a Wedderburn goal followed by a goal from Vernoux on a penalty shot. UH's swift start to the match quickly vanished as the Anteaters concluded the first quarter on a 4-0 scoring run.

The teams traded four goals each with all four of UH's goals coming on power-play opportunities. Doyle and Alia Burlock found the back of the cage and Weddeburn and Vernoux each scored their second goals of the match. The Anteaters netted two more goals in a span of 17 seconds to take a 9-6 lead, but the Rainbow Wahine would have the final say in the quarter with a goal from Vernoux to cut UC Irvine's lead to two going into halftime.

The 'Bows offense found a spark in the third quarter, finding the back of the net seven times. Wedderburn scored followed by goals from Doyle and Roni Perlman, who both converted on power-play chances. The Anteaters scored two goals, but Wedderburn matched it with two goals of her own, pushing her total to five goals on the day. Gabrielle Doyle and Perlman scored in the final minute of the quarter to give UH a 14-12 lead.

UH was outscored 3-1 in the fourth quarter with its one score coming from Wedderburn that gave UH a 15-13 lead with 6:16 left. UCI answered with a goal at the 5:57 mark and another with 1:23 left in regulation to force overtime with the score knotted up at 15-15.

UC Irvine scored the first goal of overtime and Wedderburn answered back with her seventh goal of the match. Bernadette Doyle scored on a power play, earning herself another hat trick. The Anteaters scored on a power play of their own with one second left and the match remained tied heading into the second overtime period.

Vernoux scored the go-ahead goal at the 2:24 mark of the second overtime to reclaim the lead for UH. Vernoux's goal ended up being the game-winner as the defense tightened up and did not surrender a goal for the remainder of the match.

The Rainbow Wahine will return to action in the Barbara Kalbus Invitational from Feb. 21-23 with matches held at the Anteater Aquatic Complex and Marian Bergeson Aquatics Center in Irvine, Calif. Opponents and details will be announced at a later date.

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