Hawai'i takes down visiting Tulsa, 2-0
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i women's soccer team doesn't lack confidence on the road, where it is unbeaten this season, but picking up two conference wins at home sure helps.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
The Rainbow Wahine will take a winning Western Athletic Conference record on the road after defeating Tulsa, 2-0, yesterday at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex in front of 1,052 fans.
On a play typifying her all-out, hustling style, Hawai'i junior forward Natasha Kai dives for a loose ball as Tulsa's Alexis Arment tries to avoid a collision at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex.
Hawai'i improved to 9-2-2 (2-0 WAC) and extended its unbeaten streak to seven games, going 6-0-1 during that span. Tulsa dropped to 3-7-2 (0-1 WAC).
"It's a good start, I think we're leading the WAC right now because SMU tied (Fresno State, 1-1)," said UH junior forward Natasha Kai. "We're going on the road Tuesday, and with a winning record, it gives us the confidence."
Hawai'i, which is 5-0-1 on the road, continues conference play at Southern Methodist (6-2-2, 1-0-1 WAC) Friday and Texas-El Paso (8-2-1, 1-0-1 WAC) Sunday.
Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing called yesterday's win "very positive."
"This was the most relaxed we've been," he said. "And when we're relaxed, we're pushing the ball around."
Kai scored on a header in the 30th minute to give the Rainbow Wahine a 1-0 lead in a match that was slower in pace than Hawai'i's 1-0 win over Rice Friday.
"Usually on Sundays, it's slower, because we're tired from playing Fridays," Kai said. "Any goal is going to boost us up."
Senior forward Robyn deHay received the ball off a throw-in and dropped it to left-footed senior midfielder Joelle Sugai, who sent a right-footed cross into the 18-yard box that was headed in by Kai.
Senior forward Pam Fong scored the second goal on a set play in the 42nd minute.
Senior defender Jessica Uecker started the play with a 45-yard free kick that Kai headed to Fong, who was open on the left side about 8 yards out. Fong's positioning forced goalkeeper Abby Fahrig to cover her, and allowed Fong to shoot into an open net.
"I thought she was going to score, but I was trying to follow it," Fong said of Kai's header. "Coach always tells us to follow on the second ball, and I was lucky."
A tired-looking Tulsa team couldn't penetrate Hawai'i's defense, because its strategy of kicking the ball long was countered well by defenders Uecker, Liz Lusk and Krystalynn Ontai, and substitutes Lehua Wood, Shawn Higa and Emily Rose.
Hawai'i's defense has not allowed a goal in five games, and goalkeeper Erin Chow, who had four saves, picked up her third shutout of the season.
"I think they did awesome," Chow said of the defense. "I think the defense is — knock on wood — unstoppable right now."
Tulsa's first shot on goal came in the second half, and overall Hawai'i had a 9-4 shots-on-goal advantage.
"Hawai'i had great speed, and we started off well, but we gave up too much space," Tulsa coach Rena Richardson said. "We panicked a little bit in the attacking third (of the field)."
Hawai'i put the offensive pressure on early, with its first chance in the 11th minute, when junior midfielder Seline Williams slotted a through pass down the left side of the field that Kai ran on to. Kai's shot hit the left goal post and bounced across the face of the goal before going out of play.
In the 17th minute, freshman forward Koren Takeyama had an open shot, but Fahrig got her hands on the ball and slowed it enough for defender Katherine Vitale to clear the ball.
The eventual two-goal lead allowed Tenzing to clear his bench and play 19 of the league-allowed 22 players in the conference game.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
