Sports
Top Seed UH and No. 2 LBSU Set to Clash in Championship Final for Second Straight Season
| No. 1 seed Hawai’i 11, No. 4 seed UC San Diego 9 |
Box Score | UH Presser | UCSD Presser | Interactive Bracket
Top-seeded Hawai’i outlasted No. 4 UC San Diego with a final score of 11-9 at the Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine, Calif. During the semifinal round of 2025 Big West Women’s Water Polo Championship, clinching a spot in the Championship Final for a second straight season.
The Rainbow Wahine secured the win with a strong third quarter, outscoring the Tritons 4-3. The game featured notable performances in penalty situations, with UH converting three penalty shots and UCSD committing five penalty fouls.
Play began with UCSD’s Courtney Okumura scoring at 5:50 in the first period, followed shortly by Camille Radosavljevic of UH at 5:28, tying the score. The first period ended with the Tritons leading 3-2 after Abby Moll’s late goal at 0:12. Bernadette Doyle tied the game at 3-3 just before halftime with a goal at 0:04 in the second period, and then Jordan Wedderburn scored at the buzzer to put the Rainbow Wahine ahead 4-3. In the third frame, both teams exchanged goals, but UH extended their lead with Ema Vernoux and Wedderburn scoring at 6:33 and 4:57, respectively, for a 7-5 advantage. The fourth period saw Caroline Christl of the Tritons contributing to a comeback with a goal at 6:44, but Doyle’s consistent performance, including a goal at 4:49, helped the Rainbow Wahine secure an 11-9 victory. UH capitalized on their power plays and penalty shots, converting three of each, while the Tritons scored twice from power plays and once from a penalty shot.
The Rainbow Wahine feature several standout players based on recent performances. Doyle found the back of the net five times in the contest. Roni Perlman contributed significantly by leading the team with two assists, while also drawing two exclusions. Vernoux added to the offensive efforts with two goals and provided one assist, further drawing three exclusions. Additionally, Wedderburn scored three goals and drew seven exclusions, showcasing her ability to impact the game offensively. In goal, Daisy Logtens made a made 11 saves, providing a solid defensive presence.
Christl led the Tritons with six goals from 11 shots, highlighting her scoring capability in the recent match. Okumura contributed significantly with three steals and two sprint wins, along with one goal and two assists. Sydney Munatones was a key playmaker, recording four assists and scoring one goal. In cage, Lexi Stahl made a strong impact defensively with eight saves.
Gallery: (4-26-2025) 2025 BW Champs: No. 1 UH vs No. 4 UCSD
| No. 2 seed Long Beach State 12, No. 3 seed UC Irvine 11 |
Box Score | UCSD Presser | Interactive Bracket
No. 2 Long Beach State fended off No. 2 UC Irvine in a closely contested match at the Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine, Calif. during the semifinal round of 2025 Big West Women’s Water Polo Championship, clinching a spot in the Championship Final for a second straight season.
The Beach built an early lead with five goals in the first period, while UCI responded with a strong second half, scoring six goals over the last two periods. LBSU capitalized on power plays, converting six opportunities, which proved crucial in maintaining their lead despite being outshot 36-25.
LBSU started strong in the first period, scoring four consecutive goals, including a penalty shot by Elisa Portillo at 5:46 and an even-strength goal by Daniela Quinzada Gonzalez at 3:49, to lead 4-0. UCI responded with a goal from Lauren Hett at 2:44, but LBSU extended their lead to 5-1 by the end of the first period. In the second period, the Beach maintained their momentum with two quick goals from Rita Gurri Capel, reaching a 7-3 advantage. UCI narrowed the gap in the third period with consecutive goals by Brooke Hourigan and Annabelle Mundelius, making the score 9-7. However, LBSU’s Amanda Price scored at 6:31 in the fourth period, helping her team secure a 12-11 victory despite a late surge from UCI, which included two goals from Hett. LBSU scored 12 goals off 25 shots, while UCI scored 11 goals from 36 attempts.
Several standout players emerged for the Black and Yellow. Portillo made an impact with two goals, two assists, and a pair of sprint wins. Price also excelled, scoring three goals and adding an assist. Martina Cardona contributed with two goals and an assist, while Gurri Capel added two goals to the team’s effort. Jamie Oberman provided two assists, making her a key playmaker. On the defensive side, Chelsea Oliver recorded two steals and made 16 saves as the goalkeeper en route to earning 715 career saves in cage after denying the game-tying tally with less than 20 seconds remaining.
Hett led UCI with four goals and two assists in the game. Hourigan also shined scoring two goals and adding two assists. Kennedy East contributed across the board with one goal, one assist, a steal, and a block. Nioka Thomas was notable on defense with a team-high three steals. In goal, Rachel Kirchner recorded six saves in the setback.
Gallery: (4-26-2025) 2025 BW Champs: No. 2 LBSU vs No. 3 UCI