Hawai'i wins first home game of season, 1-0

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

WAIPAHU — University of Hawai'i women's soccer coach Pinsoom Tenzing couldn't celebrate his team's first home victory this season, calling its performance adequate, uninspiring and unrecognizable.

Hawai'i's Natasha Kai, right, attempts to head the ball while under pressure from Long Beach State's Natalie Messina. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

"We didn't play well, and that is always a huge concern," Tenzing said. "The first half they didn't make any rudimentary passes in the middle of the field. I didn't recognize the team in the first half.

"The second half they played adequately, but it still wasn't inspirational soccer."

Two-time defending Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year Natasha Kai scored in the 49th minute on a misplay by the Long Beach State (3-2-1) defense.

Hawai'i (4-2-1) is 1-2-1 at home this season.

"It puts us at ease," Kai said. "It gives us a lot of confidence now that we have a win at home. It should bring our intensity back."

On a long ball sent back to the 49ers' 18-yard box, sweeper Natalie Messina was trying to screen the ball for goalkeeper Meghan Hartwyk, and Kai gave chase. As the ball entered the 18-yard box, Hartwyk and Messina realized how close Kai was to the ball and both tried to clear it, but ended up tackling each other, leaving the ball to roll free. Kai ran through and shot the ball into the open goal.

"The goalie was late coming out so I decided to charge it," Kai said.

Long Beach State coach Mauricio Ingrassia called Kai "a great weapon."

"We made one mistake, and Natasha is the kind of player who will make you pay," he said. "She puts the fear into defenders."

Unlike last year's 1-0 win at Long Beach State, the Rainbow Wahine weren't content to sit back and preserve their lead. They continued to put offensive pressure, but their only other real scoring opportunity was thwarted when Kai was taken down outside the 6-yard box in the 89th minute, and no call was made.

"If you are going to call the game, call it fair," Kai said.

However, the 49ers created several chances. Their best chance was in the 78th minute on a cross after a corner kick, when midfielder Kristin Travis was open in the middle of the 18-yard box and nailed a shot to the left side of the goal. Hawai'i senior midfielder Tia Medeiros was still covering the left pole because of the corner kick, and she headed the ball out.

Tenzing

"I felt comfortable with Chow at the back," Hawai'i senior defender Liz Lusk said. Regular starting goalkeeper Mahie Atay did not play because of a concussion she received in Friday's 2-0 loss to Duke.

Chow's six saves helped preserve Hawai'i's first shutout of the season.

"It's about time," said Jessica Uecker, a senior defender and co-captain. "We're finally starting to work together. We're getting more organized in the middle of the field and we are talking more."

Hawai'i finished with six shots on goal, and Long Beach State seven. However, in the first half both teams managed only one shot on goal in a messy, back-and-forth game with neither team managing to string together multiple passes.

"Sometimes we lose, and I'm happy (with the way we played)," Tenzing said. "This is not the kind of soccer we want to play. I hope that when the WAC (season) comes around, we'll get rid of these demons."

Duke (4-2) captured the tournament title Saturday night with a 3-0 win over Long Beach State. Duke freshman goalkeeper and Punahou graduate Allison Lipsher, the 2004 Advertiser State Player of the Year, was named to the all-tournament team.

Uecker was named to the all-tournament team, along with UH senior forward Robyn deHay and freshman forward/midfielder Gabrielle Bohlman.

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