UH soccer team returns on winning streak
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i women's soccer team returns home to host the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Classic after picking up its first wins of the season on the road.
WHAT: Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Classic WHERE: Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium, Waipahu WHEN: Tomorrow—Hawai'i vs. Duke, 7 p.m. Saturday—Duke vs. Long Beach State, 7 p.m. Sunday—Hawai'i vs. Long Beach State, 5 p.m. TV/Radio: None ADMISSION: None
The Classic begins tomorrow, with Hawai'i opening against Duke at 7 p.m. at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium. Hawai'i faces Long Beach State on Sunday at 5 p.m. Duke and LBSU play Saturday at 7 p.m.
Rainbow Wahine Soccer
After scoring one goal in two home games, the Rainbow Wahine (3-1-1) scored six on the road in 2-1 wins against UC Santa Barbara, Southern California, and Loyola Marymount.
"We didn't do anything particularly different," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "The freshman strikers were phenomenal in their ability to help us defensively."
They also helped offensively, with Gabrielle Bohlman scoring three goals and Koren Takeyama adding three assists. Their emergence helps to divert defensive attention away from two-time Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year Natasha Kai.
"Unlike the two teams that played us in town, the three teams we played on the road were playing us straight up," Tenzing said. "No special care or attention to Tasha. Every time she got a ball into space, she was lethal."
After not scoring at home, Kai scored three goals, including two in overtime, and was named the WAC's Player of the Week.
Tenzing credits the success on the road to "cohesion, both on the field and off the field."
Hawai'i emerged on the Soccer Buzz West Region rankings at No. 12.
"It is recognition for a job well done, and we'll take it any time," Tenzing said.
The Rainbow Wahine continue against two tough opponents: No. 30 Duke (2-2) and LBSU (3-0-1), which matched its best start in school history.
"This weekend is critical," he said. "We need to do well against Duke and do well for our fans overall."
Duke's two losses came to ranked teams: then-No. 18 Tennessee, 4-3 in overtime, and fifth-ranked Florida, 5-1. Duke freshman goalkeeper and Punahou graduate Allison Lipsher is the reigning Advertiser State Player of the Year.
Hawai'i defeated LBSU on the road last season, 1-0, but survived several scares toward the end of the game, according to Tenzing.
"We got into a mode where we wanted to preserve the victory," he said. "We don't want to play like that, we want to push the ball around and play confidently for 90 minutes."
Note
Tenzing's contract is up for renewal at an executive session of UH's Board of Regents meeting today. "I really don't think about it during the season, I've got too many things to do," he said. "Too many things besides my contract."
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
