ISLE FILE
Kai's goal lifts UH soccer to first win
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i forward Natasha Kai, the two-time Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, made her first goal of the season a winning one last night.
Kai scored 53 seconds into overtime as the visiting Rainbow Wahine soccer team beat UC Santa Barbara, 2-1.
UH improved to 1-1-1, while the Gauchos fell to 1-2.
Early in the overtime period, Kai took a header from midfielder Seline Williams near the top of the penalty box, tapped the ball to create space from a defender, then sent a right-footed laser that found the upper right corner of the goal.
After a scoreless half, Santa Barbara broke through when senior defender Cinthia Ruiz took a rebound off a shot by Chandi Bickford, a 2003 King Kekaulike graduate, and blasted the ball past goalkeeper Mahie Atay at 48:55. Atay would finish with six saves.
Hawai'i tied the score at 52:07 when Koren Takeyama penetrated the defense inside the box. Her shot was deflected toward fellow freshman Gabrielle Bohlman, who squared up from 15 yards and sent a low shot inside the right post of the goal.
UH will continue its first road trip of the season with a match at USC tomorrow.
WATER POLO
BYUH men's team ranked No. 17
The Brigham Young-Hawai'i men's water polo team is ranked 17th in the Collegiate Coaches Water Polo Preseason Poll released yesterday.
BYUH, which started its water polo program four years ago, has been ranked three consecutive years.
Last season, the Seasiders finished 16th nationally after rising as high as 14th during the season, which was the highest ever for the program.
BYUH and Chaminade open the season with matches on Saturday and Monday against 13th-ranked Pacific at La'ie. Chaminade plays Pacific at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 8 p.m. on Monday. BYUH plays Pacific at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Monday.
VOLLEYBALL
Chaminade swept by UC San Diego
UC San Diego hit .364 for the match to sweep visiting Chaminade, 30-23, 30-18, 30-20, yesterday in La Jolla, Calif.
Kahala Kabalis had nine kills for Chaminade (2-1).
San Diego is 6-0.
