WAIPI'O — After six years of undisputed O'ahu Interscholastic Association girls water polo supremacy, Kahuku suffered its first-ever league defeat last night, 9-7, at the hands of Roosevelt.

The Rough Riders' victory at Central O'ahu Regional Park snapped a 70-plus game win streak for the Red Raiders, improving Roosevelt to 10-0 in league play and dropping Kahuku to 10-1.

The Red Raiders had been unbeaten in the OIA since the league first recognized water polo as an official sport in 2003.

"I'm overjoyed, words can't describe it," said Rough Riders senior Taesha-Marie Keola, who scored a game-high six goals. "I've been playing for four years, and this is my last year. It's the last year for half our team, so we really wanted it."

Roosevelt took a 4-0 lead two minutes into the second quarter, but Kahuku closed to 4-2 at intermission.

The Rough Riders started the second half strong and went up 7-3 with 3:48 remaining in the third period, but Kahuku rallied again and eventually tied it 7-7 on Keola Kehaulelio's goal with 4:11 left in the game.

"Kahuku always plays together as a team very well, and they're great competitors," said Roosevelt coach Susan Nishioka. "I had to call a timeout to get our girls composed again."

It apparently worked, as junior Tiffany Tran scored the go-ahead goal eight seconds later from a tough angle on the right side.

"They changed their defense and left the wing open," Tran said. "I thought, 'This is my chance, I got this shot.' "

Keola gave the Rough Riders some breathing room on a 5-meter goal with 1:43 remaining, and the Red Raiders could manage only one more shot — a long-range attempt that sailed over the cage with 38 seconds left.

"This shows that our league is growing and the girls are getting better," said Kahuku coach Makana Whitford. "Usually I hate losing, but I'm OK with this loss because Roosevelt's girls have been playing together for a while and they've worked hard for this."