IRVINE, Calif. - No. 9 UC Irvine women's water polo team fell to No. 5 Hawai'i, 10-9, in a Big West match on Friday night at Anteater Aquatics Complex. 

The 'Eaters and Rainbow Wahine each only allowed one goal in the first to leave it tied, 1-1, at the end of one. UCI and Hawai'i traded goals to start the second period, leaving the Anteaters up, 3-2, at the 3:33 mark before the Rainbow Wahine netted two in a row to take the lead, 4-3. The 'Eaters got one back before the horn to tie it up, 4-4. Each squad added two in the third to keep it tied, 6-6, heading into the final frame. The 'Eaters netted one before Hawai'i added two to take the lead, 8-7. Lauren Hett tied it up before the Rainbow Wahine netted two more to pull ahead and widen the gap, 10-8. The Anteaters got one back before time expired but fell short, 10-9. 

BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Lauren Hett and freshman Michelle Urkov led the 'Eaters with three goals each. 

Mary Hassett, Annabelle Mundelius, and Madi O'Hara each added a tally. Junior Ella Walker recorded eight saves and one steal. 

Agatha Weston led the Rainbow Wahine with four goals. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: It was a defensive battle early on between the 'Eaters are the Rainbow Wahine, with each squad only allowing one in the first frame. Madi O'Hara got UCI on the board first, with help from Lauren Hett, at the 5:56 mark. Hawai'i netted one at the 4:06 mark to tie it up, 1-1, heading into the second period. 

Mary Hassett found the back of the net, with help from Pippa Heaver, on the man advantage to take a 2-1 lead at the 7:33 mark. The Rainbow Wahine found the equalizer at the 4:55 mark before Hett put the 'Eaters back up 3-2, with help from Bella Calderon, at the 3:33 mark. Hawai'i netted two in a row on the power play (3:02, 1:36) to take the lead for the first time, 4-3. Michelle Urkov found the back of the net at the 1:11 mark to tie it back up, 4-4, at the break. 

The Rainbow Wahine regained the lead at the 5:51 mark before Annabelle Mundelius found the equalizer on the power play, with help from Vivian Bailey, to tie it up 5-5 at the 4:32 mark. Hett added a tally, with an assist from Bailey, to put the Anteaters back up, 6-5, at the 2:44 mark. Hawai'i netted the final goal of the period at the 1:31 mark to tie it, 6-6, heading into the final frame. 

Urkov netted the first of the fourth at the 6:50 mark, with help from Hett, to regain the lead, 7-6. The Rainbow Wahine capitalized on a five-meter attempt at the 5:50 mark before adding another tally (4:42) to take the lead, 8-7. Hett converted on the power play and completed the hat trick, with help from Sara Naulty, to tie it up 8-8 at the 4:17 mark. Hawai'i netted two (4:04, 2:20) to take a late two-goal lead, 10-8. Urkov netted her third of the game at the 1:54 mark to put the 'Eaters within one, but they couldn't find the back of the net again and fell to the Rainbow Wahine, 10-9.