‘Eaters Drop Tight 8-7 Decision to Top-Seeded Hawai’i in Big West Semifinal Thriller

Saturday, April 11

Long Beach, Calif.

2:00 PM

UC Irvine

13-14

[1] Hawai'i

15-5

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
UC Irvine	1	3	1	2	7
Hawai'i	3	2	3	0	8

Photo by: Matt Brown

‘Eaters Drop Tight 8-7 Decision to Top-Seeded Hawai’i in Big West Semifinal Thriller

April 11, 2026 | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Leah Fitzpatrick

LONG BEACH, Calif. - No. 4 seed UC Irvine women's water polo team dropped a hard-fought match, 7-8, to No. 1 seed Hawai'i in the Semifinal of the Big West Championship on Saturday afternoon at Ken Lindgren Aquatics Complex.

The Rainbow Wahine took an early 3-0 lead in the first frame, before the 'Eaters netted the last goal of the period to leave Hawai'i up, 3-1, at the end of one. UCI outscored Hawai'i 3-2 in the second period to end the half only trailing by one, 5-4. The Rainbow Wahine allowed just one goal in the third, while adding three tallies of their own to increase their advantage, 8-5, heading into the fourth. The 'Eaters did not let up a goal in the final frame as they fought hard to overcome the deficit. They added two goals, but couldn't find the equalizer as they fell to Hawai'i, 7-8.

BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Sara Naulty led the 'Eaters with four goals.

Pippa Heaver, Lauren Hett, and Deirdre Murphy each netted one. Ella Walker recorded nine saves and one steal in net.

Ariadna Temprano Xambó led the Rainbow Wahine with four goals.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Rainbow Wahine went on a 3-0 run (6:21, 5:26, 4:08 powerplay goal) to start the first frame and build a 3-0 lead. The 'Eaters got on the board at the 2:29 mark when they maintained possession after Lauren Hett took a shot that tipped off the goalie. Vivian Bailey drew an exclusion to set up the goal on the man advantage from Sara Naulty, with an assist from Annabelle Mundelius, to cut the deficit, 3-1, at the end of one.

The 'Eaters forced a turnover, leading to a two-on-one breakaway goal from Pippa Heaver at the 6:31 mark to put UCI within one, 3-2. Hawai'i added a tally (5:56) before Naulty netted her second of the game (4:52), with help from Heaver, to keep UCI within one, 4-3. The Rainbow Wahine found the back of the net at the 3:08 mark to increase their lead, 5-3. Lauren Hett came up with a huge field block while down a man, leading to a goal in the other end from Deirdre Murphy (1:04), with help from Jess Reagan, to put the 'Eaters within one, 4-5, at the end of the half.

The Rainbow Wahine netted two to start the third (6:53, 4:00) with the latter coming on the powerplay to build their advantage, 7-4. Ella Walker came up with a big stop, creating an opportunity for the 'Eaters. Murphy drew a penalty foul, setting up a goal on the five-meter attempt from Hett at the 2:59 mark. Hawai'i converted on a penalty shot of their own (0:32) to maintain their lead, 8-5, heading into the final frame.

O'Hara drew an exclusion, setting up a goal on the power play from Naulty (6:55), with help from Hett, to cut the deficit to two, 8-6. Walker came up big and stopped a five-meter attempt to keep the 'Eaters within two. Naulty netted her fourth of the game at the 2:48 mark, with an assist from Mundelius, to put UCI within one. The 'Eaters fought hard until the end but couldn't come up with the equalizer as they fell to the Rainbow Wahine, 7-8.