Solid defense allows Rainbows to attack on offense

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Already loaded on offense, the Rainbow Wahine soccer team is now beating opponents with a record-setting defensive unit.

Krystalynn Ontai, a sophomore fullback from Kamehameha, has been one of the defensive stalwarts. Advertiser library photo

The first-place Rainbow Wahine can credit freshman goalie Mahie Atay and starting defenders Krystalynn Ontai, Jessica Uecker and Noelle Takemoto for the streak of soccer stinginess.

"The defense has been quite solid," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "I'm really happy for them."

The Rainbows (5-5-2 overall, 2-0 in the WAC) are counting on their defense to be the difference in this week's critical WAC road matches. Hawai'i plays at UTEP (12-1, 3-1) Friday and at defending conference champion Southern Methodist (7-4-3, 3-0-1) Sunday. Hawai'i plays a non-conference game at Texas Christian (2-9-4) Monday.

"If we have an advantage anywhere, we have a big advantage on defense," Tenzing said. "Our defense is better than UTEP's and better than SMU's. If we hold our own, we'll be OK."

The defense has allowed Tenzing to stack his attack, while leaving Ontai, Uecker and Takemoto — all sure-footed ballhawks and tactically sound defenders — to fend off opponents.

"I want numbers upfield where we can score goals," Tenzing said. "That's why we leave three in the back. They're doing a great job."

Occasionally, the defense gets help from sophomore midfielders Joelle Sugai and Natalie Groenewoud, who drop back into coverage, but for the most part the defenders handle quick-developing attacks by themselves.

Tenzing said the road trip will reveal how much the Rainbows have improved since the last meetings against the two conference teams. Last season, Hawai'i beat UTEP, 5-1, and lost twice to SMU, 3-1, and 2-0 in the WAC championship game.

"We have something to prove to ourselves about how good we are," Tenzing said. "We can't do that unless we get over the SMU hump. And also show that beating UTEP last year was not a fluke. I think we're a good team. We can't claim to be good, unless we beat the teams we're supposed to beat and do well against teams that we're not supposed to beat."

Uecker, a sophomore center defender who transferred from South Carolina, has filled in nicely this season for Liz Lusk, who suffered a partially torn ACL in her right knee during preseason practice. Uecker said Hawai'i's chances of beating UTEP and SMU will be dictated by the defense.

"I think defense is going to be extremely important," Uecker said. "I think how we play is going to determine the outcome of the game. If we have a strong defense and keep them from scoring, I think we can win."

Atay said the young defensive unit has gone through some growing pains, but now they are familiar with each other's tendencies and are communicating better.

"Early in the season, we weren't clicking well and working together as much as I wanted," said Atay, who graduated from Maui's Baldwin High School. "But once we got through some games, we started to flow better with each other. It's basically talking with each other and getting our defense settled."

And the improvement doesn't stop there. Ontai, a sophomore fullback from Kamehameha Schools, said excessive dribbling and forced passes hurt Hawai'i early in the season, but lately the team has moved the ball well.

"The past three games we've improved because of our passing," Ontai said. "We're working it through to the midfielders and having them send the long balls up to the forwards."

And not to be left out, strikers Arlene Devitt and Natasha Kai allow defenders an opportunity to practice against two of the top forwards in the conference.

"Both of them are really competitive people," said Takemoto, a senior fullback from Punahou. "They never want to lose. But we don't want them to win either. It's a pride thing. We help each other get better."

Kai, who last week set Hawai'i freshman records for points (20), goals (9) and shots (61), returned the compliment.

"They're tough," Kai said. "If they're capable of stopping us or giving us hard rubs, then they can play defense against anyone in the WAC. If they can handle us, I can guarantee they can handle any other offense from any other school."