LONG BEACH, Calif. — A strong third quarter surge and stifling defense down the stretch helped the fifth-ranked University of Hawai'i women's water polo team defeat No. 10 Long Beach State 9-7 on Sunday at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center in Long Beach, Calif.
The Rainbow Wahine (9-3, 2-0 Big West) were anchored defensively by Daisy Logtens and Agatha Weston. Logtens recorded 10 saves, surpassing 500 for her career, which ranks fourth all-time in program history, while Weston added a career-high six steals. Weston and Ariadna Temprano Xambó paced the offense with two goals apiece to help the 'Bows complete a sweep of their road trip to open conference play.
UH held Long Beach State (8-9) to 7-for-32 shooting (.219) on Sunday and 15-for-65 shooting (.246) in two meetings with the Beach this season. In this road trip, UH held UC Irvine and Long Beach State to 16-for-56 shooting (.286) and 4-for16 on power plays (.250).
The 'Bows and Beach traded goals to begin the match, which started with a power play goal from
Alia Burlock, followed by a Long Beach State score.
Raha Peiravani drew a penalty, and Weston converted from the 5-meter line. The Beach added a goal, but
Asimina Klapsianou found the back of the cage to close out the first quarter, and UH held a 3-2 lead.
Long Beach State opened the second period with a 3-0 scoring run before
Gabrielle Doyle scored on a power play to get UH back within one. At the 1:56 mark, Weston scored on another penalty shot — drawn by Peiravani — to knot the score at 5-5 entering halftime.
The Beach scored just 26 seconds into the third quarter, but UH reclaimed the lead with back-to-back goals from
Roni Perlman and Tempranó Xambo on a penalty shot. The 'Bows continued their attack with goals from Camile Radosavljevic and Tempanó Xambo to push UH's lead to three. Long Beach State added a score with 12 seconds left in the period, and the Rainbow Wahine entered the fourth with a two-goal cushion.
The fourth quarter began with a combined four steals and four missed shots from both teams. The Beach drew a penalty, but Logtens delivered a clutch denial that helped UH protect its lead. In the final minute, Weston came up with a key block, and Radosavljevic sealed the win with a steal on Long Beach State's final possession.
UH returns to action and begins its home schedule against UC San Diego on March 7 at 6:00 p.m. Hawai'i Time at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
#WahineWP
