Rainbow Wahine, Blazers play to tie, 1-1
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i women's soccer coach Pinsoom Tenzing thinks this year's Wahine are the most talented group he's had in his nine years.
But talent didn't translate into a win last night against Alabama-Birmingham during the OHANA Hotels and Resorts No Ka Oi Tournament at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
Instead, the Wahine settled for a 1-1 tie before a crowd of 654 in the opening match for both teams.
"It was not a beautiful game to watch," Tenzing said. "I'm insistent on having a game that's easy to the eyes. Hopefully we'll get it all together in the next few games."
UAB scored first when Jenny Rynders headed in a free kick by Briana McCarty at 27:32.
"Jenny Rynders, our center midfielder, is very good in the air," UAB coach Paul Harbin said. "Briana, our center back, she can serve about a 60-yard ball. Somehow Jenny got in a little seam in there and nobody went up with her. She was fairly free when she went up."
The Blazers had a great opportunity to extend their lead in the 65th minute, but Tara Kidwell's shot from the right side hit the crossbar.
The Wahine tied it at 78:49 when freshman Natasha Kai got a rebound and shot past UAB goalie Lisa Nowoslawski. Freshman Carmen Calpo was credited with an assist on the play.
"I just followed the pass over and she dropped it and I picked up her trash and luckily it went in," Kai said.
Hawai'i and UAB both finished with 17 shots in regulation, but the Blazers held a 6-1 advantage over the two 10-minute overtime periods. Hawai'i was a player down for the final 7:30 of the second overtime after sophomore defender Krystalynn Ontai was issued a second yellow card.
"I think we should have put away some goals," Tenzing said. "That's the only thing that was disconcerting. When you don't put away the goals we had in the first half — the first 15 minutes of the game — it makes the game extremely difficult."
Said Harbin: "The game was hard fought in both directions and both teams had the same problem — the final pass in to finish."
Tenzing said the Wahine were a bit predictable and need to diversify their attack.
"We created chances with the long balls, but we need to mix it up more with short balls," he said.
UAB competed against two top 20 teams in the preseason, and Harbin came away impressed with Hawai'i.
"We played Clemson and Tennessee — both ranked in the top 20 — and it was just as tough a match, if not tougher than either one of those," Harbin said.
The tournament continues today with UAB playing Wyoming. Hawai'i will play Wyoming tomorrow.
"We'll just look at our mistakes and pick up our game for Sunday," Kai said.
