HONOLULU -- Junior attacker Emily Aikema scored two goals, sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Noble recorded 10 saves with four steals, and the Aggies collectively converted four power-play opportunities, but No. 9 UC Davis surrendered three unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to fall to a 7-5 final against No. 6 Hawai'i in Big West Conference women's water polo action at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex Friday night.

The Aggies slip to 11-6 for the season and 2-3 in league games. The Rainbow Wahine win their eighth straight in improving to 8-1 overall and 3-1 in Big West play.

Third-year sophomores Allyson Clague and Alyssa Lengtat and freshman Grace Pelkey each chipped in power-play goals to round out UC Davis' scoring. Freshman attacker and Serbian national team alumna Lara Luke completed a hat trick with four steals to lead Hawai'i.

Aikema scored her first goal on a 6-on-5 conversion with 2:24 in the second quarter, putting UC Davis on the board after Hawai'i crafted a 2-0 lead during the first 13 minutes of play. Her second goal came at 4:49 in the third, again bringing the Aggies to within a goal of their hosts. Lengtat followed soon after with another power-play goal with 3:16 to go, tying the contest at 3-3. Luka and Pelkey traded goals to keep the game locked up at 4-4 until Clague's goal gave UC Davis its first lead of the game at 5-4 with seconds left in the third quarter.

However, that was the last Aggie scoring play, as Lucia Gomez de La Puente, Carmen Baringo and Lot Stertefeld netted three goals within a span of three minutes to start the fourth quarter, lifting the 'Bows to a 7-5 edge. The Aggies took four shots down the final stretch, but UH goalie Molly DiLalla stopped three while the fourth barred out.

In all, UC Davis finished at 5-for-25 (.200) shooting for the evevning, while Hawai'i managed just 7 of 28 (.250).

The two teams will square off for a non-conference matchup on Saturday. The regular-season finale begins at 3 p.m. Pacific, noon local.

 

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