ISLE FILE
UH water polo beats No. 1 USC
Advertiser Staff
The fourth time proved to be a charm for the University of Hawai'i women's water polo team.
Sophomore All-American Iefke Van Belkum scored three goals and the fifth-seeded Rainbow Wahine stunned top-seeded USC, 10-9, yesterday in the semifinals of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship at UCI's Anteater Aquatics Center in Irvine, Calif.
Hawai'i, which lost to the Trojans three times earlier this season (including one exhibition), improved to 17-9 and advanced to its first MPSF final, today against third-seeded Stanford (21-4). The Cardinal beat second-seeded UCLA, 5-4, in yesterday's other semifinal.
"We learned a lot from earlier matches with USC this season," said UH coach Michel Roy, whose team had lost its last 18 against the Trojans. "I told our girls we have nothing to lose, so go out and shoot the ball and have some fun."
All-America goalie Meike De Nooy made nine saves, including three when USC had a 6-on-5 advantage. Kristy Bagnall and Kelly Mason scored two goals apiece for the Rainbow Wahine. Mason's goal with 2:31 to play put UH ahead 10-8.
"We played with no fear and a lot of confidence today," Roy said.
Brittany Hayes scored three goals for USC (25-1).
The MPSF champion receives the league's automatic berth to the eight-team NCAA Championship at UC Davis, May 12 to 14. The country's four other league champions also receive a berth. There are three at-large teams.
TRACK AND FIELD
CABREROS LIFTS PUNAHOU
Punahou's Samantha Cabreros won the long and triple jumps, and ran legs on two winning relay teams yesterday at the 60th Punahou Relays.
Cabreros won the long jump with 17 feet, 5 inches and triple jump with 37-10.5. She also ran the lead legs on the 1600 sprint medley (4:12.62) and 4x100 (50.98) teams. The Buffanblu girls also won the 4x400 in 4:07.65. Kim Culver and Marisa Schoen ran on all three of Punahou's gold-medal teams.
Iolani (4x100 and 4x180 shuttle hurdles) and Pac-Five (distance and 4x800) each won two events.
In the boys competition, Kamehameha (4x200, 4x800, 4x400) and Kahuku (power, 4x180 hurdles, 4x100) each won three events.
The Red Raiders' Redmond Tutor ran on the hurdles relay team, and also won the long (22-9.25) and triple (45-11.75) jumps.
Kelsey Nakanelua won the Hawai'i's Fastest Human 100-meter sprint in 11.20 seconds.
Results in Record, C10.
GAUTHIER VAULTS TO WIN
University of Hawai'i junior Patricia Gauthier soared 12 feet, 1 1/2 inches to win the pole vault yesterday at the Sacramento Invitational.
Three other Rainbow Wahine won silver: Meghan Weaver, 45-2 1/4 in the shot put; Emily Sheppard, 5-7 in the high jump; and Chantelle Laan, 4 minutes, 42.82 seconds in the 1500.
SOFTBALL
UH EDGES NEVADA
Kate Robinson homered to lead off the top of the ninth for the go-ahead run and Justine Smethurst pitched a three-hitter as Hawai'i defeated host Nevada, 4-2, yesterday to snap a five-game Western Athletic Conference losing streak.
Tyleen Tausaga had three hits and two RBIs for the Rainbow Wahine (26-19, 8-6), who added an insurance run in the ninth when Alana Power doubled and later scored on a wild pitch.
Brittany Puzey hit a two-run single for the Wolf Pack (24-28, 7-8).
HPU, CU SPLIT
Clerisse Lemke pitched a three-hitter and Nicole Kalakau hit a three-run homer as Hawai'i Pacific beat Chaminade, 8-0, in five innings yesterday to salvage a split of a Pacific West Conference doubleheader at Sea Warrior Field.
Anuhea Young had three RBIs for HPU (27-18, 9-3).
In the opener, Carolyn Fisher scattered eight hits and hit a two-run homer as the Silverswords (11-32, 6-12) won, 4-2.
Kalakau hit a two-run homer for HPU.
KAYAKING
WOODS GARNERS GOLD
Kane'ohe's Brandon Woods raced to gold in the K-2 1000 meters yesterday at the USA Canoe/Kayak Sprint U.S. Team Trials in Chula Vista, Calif.
Woods, with partner Morgan House, beat Rami Zur and Tim Hornsby, who had won Friday's K-2 500 race. The winning time was 3:28.54.
Kailua's Andy Bussey, a 2004 Olympian, took third with Daniel Krawczyk (3:30.53). Maryknoll senior Pat Dolan and Punahou senior Eric Abbott were fifth (3:36.72).
Woods, a 2002 Mid-Pacific Institute graduate, took fourth in the K-1 1000. His time of 3:39.15 was three seconds behind winner Jeff Smoke.
Competition concludes today.
