UH rolls over Portland State
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
WAIPAHU — For the first time at home, the University of Hawai'i women's soccer team played to its potential, beating Portland State 3-1 in a non-conference match last night at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium. It was Hawai'i's final home game before the Western Athletic Conference season begins.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
"I felt we connected a lot better than the other games," two-time defending WAC Player of the Year Natasha Kai said. "It's one of the better games (we've played)."
Hawai'i's Koren Takeyama, middle, fights for the ball between Portland State's Jessie Corr, left, and Annie Peccia. Takeyama, a freshman forward from Baldwin High School, scored the first goal of her collegiate career in the Rainbow Wahine's 3-1 victory.
The Rainbow Wahine (5-2-1) worked combination plays, strung up passes, disrupted the Vikings' offense, won air balls, and in the second half allowed Tenzing to clear his bench for the first time this season.
"The most gratifying part of the game was that everyone got to play," Tenzing said. He was also happy with the passes to the space behind the Vikings' defense.
"The striking mates were looking for the balls in space," Tenzing said. "I thought we did a good job in the first half playing, and getting that final pass in."
Freshman forward Koren Takeyama started the scoring in the 15th minute on an assist by freshman midfielder Gabrielle Bohlman, who intercepted a pass from a Viking defender and slotted the ball into the middle of the 18-yard box for Takeyama to run on to. Takeyama beat one defender to the right side of the goal, forcing goalkeeper Niki Brooks to cover her, and chipped the ball into the far side, netting the first goal of her career.
"I was really happy and relieved," she said. "At first I thought it was going to go over the net; I was like, 'Stay down!'"
A minute and a half later, Kai scored on an assist from senior forward Robyn deHay. DeHay passed a ball that Portland State freshman defender Juli Edwards just got her foot on, but it trickled past her, allowing Kai to run on to the ball with open space in front of her. Kai dribbled, then shot a low ball with the outside of her right foot under Brooks.
"We were in the right place at the right time," Kai said.
With two minutes to go in the half, sophomore midfielder Kelly McClosky scored Hawai'i's third goal on a header off a Jessica Uecker 45-yard free kick. It was the first goal of McClosky's career.
"Our passes are connecting, and our forwards are looking more deadly than we ever have," Takeyama said. "It's important because the WAC is coming."
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Portland State sophomore forward Jamie Blakesley scored in the 87th minute on a header off a cross from Katie Miyake.
Hawai'i's Natasha Kai, right, and Portland State's Juli Edwards lunge for the ball at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
Defensively the Rainbow Wahine appeared solid in the first half, allowing one shot on goal. But they allowed several second-half opportunities, including a header by Blakesley that hit the left goal post and a shot saved on a header by UH junior midfielder Seline Williams.
"We had to click a switch mentally," said Vikings coach Tara Erickson, whose team dropped to 1-4-1. "I was a little mad at halftime."
Portland State starting sophomore right halfback Kari Otani is a Maui High graduate.
Hawai'i goes on the road for matches against New Mexico, Gonzaga and Brigham Young, before returning home Oct. 1 to start the WAC season against Rice.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
