IRVINE, Calif. - No. 11 UC Irvine women's water polo team dropped a hard-fought overtime decision to No. 5 Hawai'i, 15-16, on Saturday afternoon at the Triton Invitational in La Jolla. 

The 'Eaters and Rainbow Wahine traded goals over the first few minutes of the game to see it tied up at 2-2. UCI netted one to take the lead before Hawai'i scored two in a row to take a 4-3 lead. The Anteaters got one back before the Rainbow Wahine netted three unanswered to end the first up 7-4. Hawai'i scored the first two goals of the second period before the 'Eaters scored the final three to cut the deficit to 7-9 at the end of the half. The Rainbow Wahine scored two more goals to open the third period before the 'Eaters got one back to stay within reach, 8-11. UCI and Hawai'i traded goals over the final minutes of the third to leave the Rainbow Wahine up, 13-9, heading into the final frame. The Anteaters scored four unanswered in the fourth quarter to tie it up, 13-all, and force overtime. UC Irvine and Hawai'i each netted two in the first overtime period to leave it tied, 15-15. The Rainbow Wahine found the back of the net once in the second overtime to steal the 16-15 win.

BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Lauren Hett led the squad with four goals. Junior Annabelle Mundelius led the comeback, with all three of her goals coming in the fourth quarter. 

Sara Naulty and Madi O'Hara each netted two goals for the 'Eaters. Hollis Munchoff, Chloe Patist, Charley Birdsall, and Deirdre Murphy each added a tally. 

Agatha Weston led the Rainbow Wahine with eight goals. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: Sara Naulty got the 'Eaters on the board before Hawai'i found the equalizer to tie it up early, 1-1. Lauren Hett found the back of the net before the Rainbow Wahine answered to keep it tied at 2-all. Charley Birdsall netted one before Hawai'i added two tallies to take the lead, 4-3. Chloe Patist got on the scoresheet before the Rainbow Wahine netted three unanswered to take the lead, 7-4, at the horn. 

Hawai'i continued their run and netted two more to open the period and increase their lead, 9-4. Madi O'Hara got one back for the 'Eaters before Naulty netted her second of the game to cut the deficit, 6-9. Hett netted the final goal of the half to put the Anteaters within three, 7-9. 

The Rainbow Wahine found the back of the net twice to widen the gap, 7-11. O'Hara added a tally before Hawai'i netted one of their own to maintain their lead, 8-12. Hollis Munchoff got one back for the 'Eaters before Hawai'i netted the final goal of the period to leave them up, 13-9, heading into the fourth. 

The Anteaters scored four unanswered in the fourth to force the game into overtime. Annabelle Mundelius led the charge and kicked off the run with the first goal. Deirdre Murphy added a tally before Mundelius netted two in a row to tie the game up, 13-all. 

UCI and Hawai'i traded goals in the first overtime period. The Rainbow Wahine struck first before Hett added a tally to keep the game tied, 14-14. Hawai'i netted another before Hett found the back of the net once again to tie it up, 15-15, at the horn. 

Hawai'i found the back of the net once in the second overtime period to steal the 16-15 win. 

UP NEXT: The 'Eaters are back in action tonight at 5:20 p.m. as they take on No. 6 Arizona State to cap off day two of the Triton Invitational.