IRVINE, Calif. – Senior Cara Borkovec rifled a hard shot to the right corner of the cage for the game-winning goal in sudden-death overtime as UC Irvine won its second-straight Big West Championship title, 8-7, against Hawai'i, Sunday at the Anteater Aquatics Complex.

It is the seventh Big West Championships title (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2017) and second-straight for the Anteaters who earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center in Los Angeles May 11-13.

The selection show will be streamed on NCAAsports.com tomorrow (April 30) at 5:00 p.m. PT

The decisive sequence began with an exclusion on UH's Elyse Lemay-Lavoie, drawn by Julie Swieca, with 33 seconds showing in sudden death overtime. The 'Eaters tossed the ball around the perimeter until Corinna Toledo made a long cross to Cara Borkovec. Borkovec fired in a quick shot past the Rainbow Wahines' goalkeeper Molly DiLalla, sending a raucous crowd wild.

The Anteaters, who were the tournament's No. 3 seed and ranked ninth nationally, improve to 14-13 on the season and extend their winning streak to five straight. Top-seeded Hawai'i falls to 21-5 overall.

Junior goalkeeper Jenna Phreaner was named the Tournament MVP as she notched eight saves against the 'Bows and 19 total on the weekend.  

Allie Loomis and Tara Prentice each had two goals for UCI while Corinna Toledo, Julie Swieca, Megan Falcon and Borkovec tallied one apiece. Isabel Rack notched team-highs in steals (2) and assists (2).

UH's Chloe Barr and Lemay-Lavoie led the team with two goals each while DiLalla had 16 saves in goal.

UCI out-shot the 'Bows 42-30 and converted 2-of-6 powerplays compared to Hawai'i's 3-of-11.

Maartje Keuning put UH on the board first, scoring on a 6-on-5, followed by another goal from the Rainbow Wahines' Irene Gonzalez. Swieca scored first for the 'Eaters but UH answered to make it a 3-1 game after the first frame.

Defense prevailed in the second quarter as neither team would score, keeping the score 3-1, at intermission.

Prentice broke the scoring draught early in the third quarter on a powerplay goal. Corinna Toledo and Loomis notched two-straight goals to give UCI its first lead of the game, 4-3, at 2:45. Loomis scored again but UH's Barr put two away down the stretch to knot the game at five.

The teams exchanged back-and-forth goals to open the fourth quarter until Lemay-Lavoie gave the 'Bows a slight, 5-4, edge with just under four minutes to play. With 43 seconds showing on the clock, Corinna Toledo passed to freshman Megan Falcon who saw an opening and fired one past DiLalla to send the game into overtime.

Two overtime periods expired with neither team able to score, sending the game into sudden death.

Borkovec's golden goal came with just 17 seconds remaining in the first sudden death overtime period.

NOTES: UCI earned its sixth NCAA appearance … This marked the third time UCI and UH met in the Big West Championship finals, as the first two meetings saw Hawai'i win … All three meetings were decided in overtime … The last time UCI hosted the Big West Championships, it played Hawai'i in the title game and lost in overtime … At last year's Big West Championship title game, UCI defeated Long Beach State, 8-7, in sudden death overtime … This marked the third overtime game of the season for the 'Eaters.

BY PERIOD
UCI: 1-0-4-2-0-0-1=8
HAW: 3-0-2-2-0-0-0=7

SCORING
UCI: Loomis 2, Prentice 2, Borkovec 1, Falcon 1, Swieca 1, Cor. Toledo 1
HAW: Lemay-Lavoie 2, Barr 2, Irene Gonzalez 1, Maartje Keuning 1, Femke Aan 1

SAVES
UCI: Jenna Phreaner 8
HAW: Molly DiLalla 16