IRVINE, Calif. — Stout defense over the final two minutes lifted the fifth-ranked University of Hawai'i women's water polo team to a 10-9 victory over No. 9 UC Irvine to open Big West play on Friday at the Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine, Calif.

Sophomore Agatha Weston powered UH's offense with a team-high four goals to earn her fifth hat trick of the season. Daisy Logtens played all 32 minutes in the cage and posted seven saves and is six denials away from 500 for her career.

The Rainbow Wahine (8-3) held the Anteaters (5-10) to 9-for-24 shooting (.375) and 3-for-11 (.273) on power plays, to extend their winning streak to 28 straight against Big West opponents. The victory also marked UH's third over UC Irvine this season.

UC Irvine scored the first goal of the match, but UH responded with a goal from Gabrielle Doyle at the 4:06 mark of the opening quarter. Both defenses clamped down for the remainder of the period, as the Rainbow Wahine held the Anteaters to 1-for-6 shooting, including 0-for-4 on power plays.

The teams traded goals throughout the second frame that started with a UC Irvine goal, before Ariadna Temprano Xambó netted a score. The Anteaters added another goal and UH answered with a power play score from Weston. The 'Bows capitalized on another power play shortly after with a goal from Ema Vernoux, but UC Irvine added a score and evened the match at 4-4 heading into halftime.

UH opened the second half with Weston's second goal of the contest to reclaim the lead. UC Irvine tacked on two goals, but Roni Perlman tallied her first goal to tie the game at 6-6 to close out the third quarter.

UC Irvine regained the lead with a goal at the 6:50 mark. Vernoux tied the contest once more after she converted a penalty shot, and UH captured the lead after Weston's third goal of the match to complete the hat trick. The Anteaters added another goal to tie the match at 8-8 before Weston and Doyle both found the back of the cage to give UH a two-goal advantage. UC Irvine tallied a score 26 seconds later at the 1:54 mark to cut UH's lead to one, but the Rainbow Wahine held strong defensively, denying the Anteaters on their final two possessions to secure the win.

UH closes its road trip against No. 10 Long Beach State on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Hawai'i Time (11:00 a.m. Pacific Time) at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center in Long Beach, Calif.  
 

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