March 25, 2006

HONOLULU - The fifth-ranked University of Hawai`i women's water polo team extended its winning streak to three-straight with a 13-8 victory over eighth-ranked UC Santa Barbara today in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

Hawai`i improved to 9-6 overall and 4-2 in the MPSF, while UC Santa Barbara fell to 12-10 and 2-5.

The Rainbow Wahine took an early 2-0 lead on a pair of goals by Kelly Mason, but UCSB responded with goals from Alaina Whitaker and Aimee Stachowski to tie it up after the first quarter.

UH tallied two quick goals by Iefke Van Belkum and Emily Cox to go up by two, but again the Gauchos came back to tie it at four with a pair of goals, one by Lindsay Knott. The Rainbow Wahine then picked up two late goals by Van Belkum and Kristy Bagnall to lead 6-4 at the half.

In the third quarter, Van Belkum added her third and fourth goals to give UH an 8-4 advantage. Whitaker's goal for UCSB at 2:43 pulled the Gauchos to within three, but Mari Yogi lobbed in a shot at 1:18 and Mason's third goal with two seconds left on the clock gave UH a 10-5 lead after three.

In the fourth, UCSB's Allie Carkin scored in the first minute, but UH kept the offensive attack as Van Belkum added her fifth and sixth goals, while Mason pumped in her fourth, as UH went on to a 13-8 win.

Team             	1	2	3	4		Final
UC Santa Barbara	2	2	1	3	-	8
Hawai`i          	2	4	4	3	-	13
Goals by HAW:   Iefke Van Belkum (6), Kelly Mason (4),
Kristy Bagnall, Mari Yogi, Emily Cox.
HAW Goalie Saves:   Meike De Nooy (5).
Goals by UCSB:   Alaina Whitaker (3),
Aimee Stachowski, Lindsay Knott, Allie Carkin, N/A (2).
UCSB Goalie Saves:   Jenny Gonzales (1).
Records:  Hawai`i (9-6, 4-2 MPSF),
UC Santa Barbara (12-10, 2-5 MPSF)