Drama descended on Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium in a couple of ways as Hawaii ended an epic conference losing streak.

Addie Steiner put in buzzer-beating goals to end both halves and the Rainbow Wahine ended a 10-game Big West slide — more than a full season’s worth of futility in meaningful games — with a 2-0 victory over UC Riverside on Thursday night.

Adding to the drama, Steiner was taken down on a questionable tackle from behind by the Highlanders in the final seconds and moments after she put in the game-sealing score. UH players came to the defense of Steiner, who stayed down flat on her back for several seconds. After some jostling, the teams eventually lined up to shake hands.

“It’s kind of crazy that it worked out in the last minute of both halves,” Steiner said.

Asked if she thought the hit was dirty, she paused and said, “I dunno. I think they were going straight for the ball.”

In the opener of a four-game homestand, UH (8-3-1, 1-2 BWC) stayed in the hunt for a Big West tournament berth and matched its highest overall win total under Nagamine. Riverside (3-8-3, 0-3) remained at the bottom of the league standings.

Nagamine savored the decision and the fifth shutout of the season by goalkeeper Monk Berger. The Rainbow Wahine last won a BWC home game on Oct. 5 … of 2014.

“That elusive Big West win, it tastes really good,” Nagamine said.

UH continues play at Waipio against UC Davis (5-5-3, 1-0-1) at 5 p.m. Sunday. Davis pulled off an upset of Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, coming from down two goals to win 3-2.

Thursday’s final takedown, after the 5-foot-2 Steiner scored her seventh goal of the season on a counterattack assist from Sarah Lau, was a main topic of conversation afterward.

“I thought it was a little aggressive. I thought the foul was a little flagrant,” Nagamine said. “But I think emotions are running high at the end of the game. Nobody likes to be in that position and I’m sure there was a little bit of frustration there. It’s unfortunate, but it happens. And I’m sure when everybody calms down and has some reflection, they’ll get clarity and maybe express a little remorse. Poor Addie Steiner. That was a rough one.”

Players crowded around as the referees attempted to intercede.

“I just know she needed her space and the other team didn’t really give it to her,” defender Storm Kenui said.

Riverside coach Nat Gonzalez went over to shake Nagamine’s hand personally afterward after the Highlanders dropped to 0-3 at WPSS since 2012.

“It’s pretty emotional,” he said of the game. “We had a lot on the line. We’re in a little bit of a slump, actually a big slump. … Hawaii’s a very good team and they were better tonight.”

On the last play, he said: “It was a tackle. Until I see it on video, I don’t know if it was dirty or not. It looked to me like it was ball and she probably just caught it wrong. Thank God she got up, it didn’t seem like she was too injured.”

Freshman Tia Furuta got the starting nod up top on the heels of her first goal and assist at UC Santa Barbara last week. In the final seconds of the first half, she assisted a ball ahead to Steiner, who scored with two seconds on the clock. With that, UH extended its record for consecutive games with a goal with 12.