Late goal boosts UH water polo over Gauchos
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Freshman Chelsea Garner-Prohs scored the match-winning goal with 1:17 left to play as the University of Hawai'i held off UC Santa Barbara, 8-7, yesterday to advance to the fifth-place game in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Women's Water Polo Championships at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
Senior Mandy Foster led the Wahine (22-8) with three goals, all in the second quarter. Garner-Prohs finished with two goals while Christi Bardecki, Andy Nishioka and Joanne Ansell each chipped in one.
"That was an interesting match," said Hawai'i coach Shari Smart. "We were extremely evenly matched with that team."
In other consolation matches yesterday, Pacific beat UC Irvine, 6-4, and San Jose State beat San Diego State, 6-3.
In the winners' bracket, UCLA beat Southern California, 9-8, in triple overtime; and Stanford beat California, 6-4, in double overtime.
The Wahine led 7-5 heading into the final quarter, but the Gauchos rallied behind a penalty shot by Kelley Tiffany and an extra-swimmer goal by Cathy Holmberg.
With less than two minutes left to play, Hawai'i's Eko Lapp was swarmed as she tried to maneuver near the UCSB goal. The ball touched the end line and Hawai'i retained possession with 11 seconds left on the shot clock.
After a timeout, the Wahine worked the ball to Bardecki on a set play, but her shot attempt bounced off the top of the goal.
Garner-Prohs recovered the ball and passed to Nishioka in front of the goal. As defenders converged, Nishioka passed back to Garner-Prohs, who ripped a shot to the upper left corner of the goal.
"I was really, really ready to put it in the cage," Garner-Prohs said. "I wanted it."
Smart said she was impressed with her freshman's poise.
"A lot of times a freshman will grab (the ball) and shoot again right off," Smart said. "Fortunately, she had enough composure to take a couple of deep breaths. That was nice."
The Wahine were out of synch early, trailing 2-0 after the first quarter. But a quick strike by Garner-Prohs ignited an explosive second quarter for Hawai'i.
A minute and a half into the quarter, UCSB was called for a ball-under foul, and on the ensuing change of possession, Bardecki rifled a cross-pool pass to a streaking Garner-Prohs for a one-on-one goal.
Foster tied the score at 2 on a penalty shot, but USCB's Megan Wertz responded with a skip-shot goal from two meters out. It was the last time the Gauchos would lead.
UH ended the half with a flurry. With 2:27 left, Bardecki scored on a penalty shot. Thirty seconds later, Ansell fed Foster for a transition goal. Foster scored again with 1:08 left off a touch pass from Nishioka to give UH a 5-3 lead at the half.
UCSB scored twice in the third, but UH answered immediately both times.
"We've been working on attacking immediately after a score," Smart said. "We haven't been responding with enough energy and enough gumption. It's a psychological thing and you've got to have that."
Hawai'i will play San Jose State today at 2 p.m. for fifth place. UH lost to the Spartans, 7-6, on March 25.
"They're an extremely physical team," Smart said. "They're scrappy. They'll hustle for everything. The difference will be whether we can control their momentum."
Today's matches: Long Beach vs. Pacific, 11 a.m.; SDSU vs. UCSB, 12:30; Hawai'i vs. SJSU, 2 p.m.; USC vs. California, 5 p.m.; UCLA vs. Stanford, 6:30 p.m.
