Saint Mary's stops Hawai'i in season opener
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
WAIPAHU — The University of Hawai'i women's soccer team couldn't shake opening-game jitters as it fell to Saint Mary's, 1-0, in the OHANA Hotels & Resorts No Ka Oi tournament last night at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
Nervousness led to early mental lapses and breakdown in communication, but the Rainbow Wahine were happy with the way they rebounded in the second half.
Tenzing
"When we started everybody was pretty hyped up to play our first game; we shouldn't because we played together already," said Hawai'i goalkeeper Mahie Atay, one of nine upperclassmen starters. "I think we actually had a pretty good game."
Saint Mary's forward McKenna Belzer scored in the 24th minute after taking advantage of a deflection off a Hawai'i defender and making a 30-yard free run down the right side of the field, finishing the play with a low shot under Atay.
Gaels defender Stephanie Harrison, credited with the assist, intercepted a Hawai'i pass on a free kick and sent a long ball that started the play.
"That was a mental breakdown, we need to be a little better," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "They were dwelling on the fact that their teammate made a mistake."
Tenzing said the team "didn't come out with the intensity" he required, but it settled down in the second half, not allowing another Gaels shot on goal.
"It's a tough place to come and get results," said Saint Mary's coach Paul Sapsford, who called his team's performance "courageous."
Sapsford singled out Harrison for shutting down two-time defending Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year Natasha Kai.
Kai led the Rainbow Wahine with four shots on goal, including Hawai'i's best chance in the 70th minute when Kai nailed a shot that required a diving save by Gaels goalkeeper Andrea Lee.
"It's a little frustrating, I'm not used to playing with them yet," said Kai, who did not participate in fall camp after suffering a contusion on her left shin while playing with the U.S. Women's Under-21 National team.
"Two years before it was Tasha, Tasha, Tasha," senior co-captain Joelle Sugai said. "Now that she's a national team player, people are going to be marking her. We have to be smarter and look to the other two forwards, because she's clearing out space and we have to take advantage of those opportunities."
Three Rainbow Wahine successfully debuted: forwards Koren Takeyama and Gabrielle Bohlman and midfielder Jessica Domingo, all who "played stunningly well," Tenzing said.
Saint Mary's senior forward Sarah Takekawa, a Kailua graduate, returned home for the first time to play in front of family and friends.
"It was beautiful," she said. "It feels great any time you win."
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
