HONOLULU, Hawai'i --- A wild Big West shootout broke out at Waipio Peninsula Stadium Sunday evening in a rainy, soggy Honolulu, and the 'Eaters had the last worst coming from behind to win, 3-2, over host Hawai'i.

The scoring started in the 16th minute as the Anteaters set up for a free kick along the left wing. Lili Andino took it and roped it toward the near post. The shot hit the post and then diving keeper Alexis Mata banking in for the opening goal and a 1-0 lead for UC Irvine (8-3-4, 3-0-1).

Hawai'i (5-7-0, 0-3-0) didn't let that linger tying things up with a well-run corner kick play as Dani Crawford headed home a chip off Maddie Newsom and in for the 1-1 tie in the 17th minute.

The Rainbow Wahine continued to push putting six of their eight first-half shots on target which included a second goal in the 24th minute. Leialoha Medeiros punched a shot off the far post and in giving UH the advantage, 2-1.

UCI fought back to tie tihngs up just before the half on a timely defensive play from Claire Grouwinkel. The freshman forced a turnover and streaked down the left wing to start the break, and she would feed a through ball up to Noel Baham who deked and slid home a shot past Mata to make it 2-2 in the 38th minute.

The 'Eater attack started the second half where it left off posting many early chances including a pair of shots in the box blocked from Andino and Baham, but the finishing blow fell in the 72nd minute. Baham found some space down the right wing and zipped a low cross in finding Kiana Palacios whose volley clanged off the post and in put UCI back in front, 3-2.

Hawai'i didn't let up finishing with 10 of their 14 shots on frame testing Newsom who tied a career high with seven saves. The bets chance for an equalizer came in the 80th minute as a cross came in and drew Newsom out. The ball was cleared, but right to Tia Furuta who was able to head it back toward goal, but it just veered into the side netting keeping the match at 3-2 onward to an Anteater victory.

As mentioned, Newsom finished with seven saves and her backline stopped an eighth. UCI posted 25 shots with nine on target and six stopped by UH's Mata.

The offense started with Andino posting her second goal of the season. Baham had a goal and assist giving her the team lead on the season with 16 points while adding to her career total of assists now at 19. Grouwinkel claimed the assist on her goal, just the first of her freshman career. Meanwhile, Kiana Palacios buried her sixth goal of the season and 24th all-time. It was also her ninth career game-winning goal and puts her above 60 career points.

The win also puts the Anteaters atop the Big West with 10 points at 3-0-1. Next up is an ESPN3 broadcast on Thursday, Oct. 12 where UCI will welcome UC Davis into Anteater Stadium for a 7:00 p.m. match