UC Irvine
Hawai''i
No. 6 UC Irvine Finishes Strong To Beat No. 7 Hawaii, 9-8
February 25, 2017 | Women's Water Polo
IRVINE, Calif. – No. 6 UC Irvine scored three times in the fourth quarter to beat No. 7 Hawaii, 9-8 in a quarterfinal game at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational held at the Anteater Aquatics Center.
Junior Mary Brooks and senior Kelsey Thornton led UCI with three goals each, while Mackenzie Milham, McKenna Mitchell and Cambria Shockley each recorded one in the win.
Jenna Phreaner recorded 11 saves in goal.
The teams were tied 2-2 after the first period then back-to-back goals by Mary Brooks and Mackenzie Milham gave the Anteaters the 4-2 advantage. Hawaii would answer with a goal before Brooks netted another to give UCI the 5-3 lead heading in to the break.
UCI's McKenna Mitchell started the scoring with a goal after a foul in the third only to watch Hawaii score the next two and narrow the gap going in to the final period, 6-5.
Hawaii would strike first, knotting the score at 6-6. Kelsey Thornton would then explode for two goals putting UCI back in front 8-6. Hawaii would score at 1:55 before senior Cambria Shockley hit the game winner with 1:05 remaining. Hawaii would score with eight ticks remaining for the 9-8 final.
UCI will play No. 5 Arizona State in the fifth place match tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. at the Anteater Aquatic Center.
Scoring by Period
Hawaii 2-1-2-3-8
UC Irvine 2-3-1-3-9
Scoring
UC Irvine: Brooks 3, Thornton 3, Milham 1, Mitchell 1, Shockley 1
Hawaii: Nixon 3, Barr 2, Aan 2, Gonzalez 1
Goalie Saves
Phreaner (UCI) 11, (Hawaii) 5
