Two weeks ago the University of Hawai'i women's water polo team handed Southern California its first defeat of the season in a 10-9 upset in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation semifinals.

The top-ranked Women of Troy may have used that loss as motivation in their 9-7 victory over the No. 4 Rainbow Wahine, in the NCAA semifinals yesterday.

"If we didn't lose to Hawai'i, I think they would have beaten us here today. I think that we would have overlooked them, maybe," USC coach Jovan Vavic said. "I think things could have been ugly here. I think we didn't respect Hawai'i enough."

The Rainbow Wahine (18-11) gained the respect that led Vavic to prepare his team for the semifinals instead of looking past Hawai'i and to the finals.

Hawai'i coach Michel Roy, however, said it wasn't the respect gained from the MPSF semifinal game that gave USC the victory; it was the Women of Troy's strength and athleticism.

"Of course it would have been nice to win a second time this season," Roy said, "But USC is seeded first because they are deep, they are talented, they are strong, they are fast, powerful, experienced, talented and world-class athletes."

Senior Moriah Van Norman made sure it was going to be USC (28-2) and not Hawai'i in the championship against today against No. 3 UCLA.

Van Norman's hat trick and freshman goalkeeper Whitney Morgan's nine saves led the way.

Van Norman also had a different take on the role of the loss to Hawai'i in the MPSF tournament.

"The NCAAs is a totally different environment and our girls know how to play," Van Norman said. "We know how to step it up. Our team would have come through and I have no doubt that we would have been prepared for them."

USC opened with two missed shots by Patty Cardenas and Erika Figge off the top of the cage, but a straight shot by Brittany Hayes during a power play put USC on the board.

Hawai'i would answer with its own power play allowing Anna Sieprath to score.

After UH's Brittany Hayes skipped one past USC goalkeeper Whitney Morgan, a penalty shot by Ann Pardo would even the score again.

An off-the-water shot from the weak side by Iefke Van Belkum and a Sieprath open look would put the Rainbow Wahine up 4-2, but USC would tie the score at 4 after two periods.

"It could have gone anywhere. When you're up 4-2, it doesn't mean you've won," Hawai'i goalie Meike De Nooy said. "You have to keep hold of the game. You have to keep going, keep shooting balls, and keep defending. You have to keep going all of the way."

A Van Norman goal would open the third quarter followed by a quick goal by UH's Kelly Mason to tie the game at 5. But the Trojans would score four unanswered goals to take an 9-5 lead.

Hawai'i will play for third place against No. 2 Stanford today. UCLA defeated Stanford, 8-5, in the other semifinal.