Posted on: Saturday, October 2, 2004

Kai sisters lead UH past Rice in WAC opener

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

For the first time since playing at Kahuku High, sisters Krisha and Natasha Kai hooked up to give Hawai'i a 1-0 win over Rice in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams last night at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium in front of 832 fans.

Krisha, a sophomore forward, scored on an assist from older sister Natasha, the two-time WAC Player of the Year, in the 58th minute to give the Rainbows a much-needed home win.

Hawai'i continues WAC play against Tulsa tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the WPSS.

Natasha controlled a clear from senior defender Krystalynn Ontai from the left side of the field, and sent a pass straight up the field to Krisha, who was about 20 yards away from the goal. Krisha shot a low ball into the right corner of the goal, out of the reach of Rice goalkeeper Lauren Shockley, the reigning WAC Defensive Player of the Week.

"She was yelling, 'Krisha Go!' and I got scared and I followed her," Krisha said. "It must be a younger sister thing."

Natasha, a junior forward, added: "It was great. It's good to score, and it's good to assist, and it's great to do it together. I'm glad we got to do it in front of my family."

Natasha called the win a confidence booster, especially if the teams are to meet up again in the WAC tournament, being hosted by Hawai'i in November.

"It was a good win, losing to them and coming back," she said, of Rice ousting the Rainbow Wahine out of the WAC tournament the past two years. "Now we know we can beat them in the home town, and WAC is here."

The Rainbow Wahine (8-2-2) picked up their fifth win in six games, and have not lost a game in that stretch. They also broke the Owls' seven-game streak of not losing a game.

"I feel particularly gratified we played good soccer," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "We controlled the middle of the field, their strikers did absolutely nothing."

Hawai'i's goal was only the fourth scored on the Owls (7-2-2) in 11 games, and Rice coach Chris Huston said the speed of the Rainbow Wahine offense, "wore our defense down a bit."

"I think it's funny, the opponent that is farthest away is one of our biggest rivals," she said of Hawai'i taking a 4-3 advantage in the match-up.

It wasn't a particularly offensive game, with most of the play in the middle of the field. UH had five shots on goal, to Rice's two.

"We're coming together now, like we're supposed to be connecting," Natasha said. "And when we're connecting, we're unstoppable."

Krisha re-injured her right knee in the 81st minute and had to leave the game. Last season, she tore her anterior cruciate ligament that ended her season. "They said it's nothing to be scared about," she said.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.