USC sends Wahine to consolation play | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Hawaii's Caity Lopes da Silva takes a shot at goal against Southern California goalie Victória Chamorro during the NCAA quarterfinal women's water polo on Friday

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Compared to its first meeting with USC this season, the Hawaii water polo team improved its execution in Friday’s rematch in Stanford, Calif.

But the outcome was painfully familiar for the Rainbow Wahine in a 14-7 loss to the Trojans in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship.

USC (23-5) jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first quarter and remained in control to advance to a semifinal matchup with Stanford on Saturday.

UH (18-9), the Big West champion, fell into the consolation bracket and will face Princeton at 9 a.m.

"We want to go out on a good note and this team has a lot of pride," UH coach Maureen Cole said in a phone interview. "It hurts right now and it’ll hurt for a few more hours, but tomorrow’s a new day and we’ll come out ready to compete."

USC, which defeated UH 10-1 early in the season, got goals from 11 different players, with Monica Vavic, Brianna Daboub and Brigitta Games scoring twice each. Victoria Chamorro made nine saves for the Trojans while giving up five goals and the Trojans picked up their 16th straight win in the series with UH. Five of those meetings have come in NCAA tournament play.

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"They did a good job of putting away their shots and we had some good opportunities, too, but their goalie played out of her mind," Cole said. "We had some great looks and she just pulled them down and they’re a fast, physical team, so all the credit in the world to them."

UH junior Paula Chillida Esforzado led the Rainbow Wahine with three goals, and they got one each from seniors Caity Lopes da Silva, Emily Carr and Zoe Respondek and sophomore Chloe Barr.

UH trailed 2-1 after Chillida Esforzado’s first goal at the 4:48 mark of the first quarter, but Vavic answered for USC and assisted on Games’ first goal to send the Trojans on a 6-0 run.

The Wahine closed to 8-4 in the third quarter, only to see USC score the next three goals.

"We did a great job this time compared to the last time we played them of moving the ball and breaking their press to get good outside looks," Cole said. "Last time we couldn’t move the ball or do anything. We scored and we got good looks, but it’s just their offense was stronger today."