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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, September 22, 2005

UH is ready to kick its season up a notch

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Campbell

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UH Women

WHAT: Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Shootout

WHEN: Hawai'i (2-4-1) vs. Butler (4-4-0), tomorrow at 7 p.m. Butler vs. Robert Morris (2-4-0), Saturday at 5 p.m. Hawai'i vs. Robert Morris, Sunday at 5 p.m.

WHERE: Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium

TV: Sunday's game live on KFVE

ADMISSION: Free

PARKING: Free

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After an eight-day break, the University of Hawai'i women's soccer team is rested and relatively injury free — with its upcoming conference season looming.

The Rainbow Wahine (2-4-1) return to the field against Butler (4-4-0) tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Shootout. Hawai'i plays Robert Morris (2-4-0) Sunday at 5 p.m. Both games are at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium. Butler and Robert Morris play Saturday at 5 p.m.

"They've been working hard; we have our eye on the conference games. They've been terrific at practice and terrific in conditioning (Tuesday)," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said.

The Rainbow Wahine returned from their first road trip 0-2-1, tying Weber State, 0-0, and losing to Long Beach State, 4-2, and UC Santa Barbara, 3-1. Their Western Athletic Conference season begins in two weeks against Idaho.

They welcome the return of co-captain Jessica Domingo, and expect more playing time from Gabrielle Bohlman. Both are starting central midfielders who were injured in the first game of the season.

"I'm happy to have them back," Tenzing said.

Also expected to play will be the Kai sisters — Natasha and Krisha, who did not accompany the team on its road trip because they did not pass the team's mandatory fitness tests for road trips.

Bohlman, recovering from a right knee sprain, received minutes against Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara. Domingo did not travel to rest her left knee sprain.

"(Bohlman) saw just limited time, and she was doing fine, but because of concern of further injury, we took her out," Tenzing said.

He said Domingo has been practicing and running since last week, "but by her own admission she's out of shape, which is to be expected."

While two players are back from knee injuries, yet another, freshman forward Aimee Cohen, sprained her left knee and will not play this weekend. She is the fourth Hawai'i starter — including senior midfielder Seline Williams (left knee) — who has missed game time from a knee sprain.

One bright spot for Hawai'i has been midfielder/forward Adria Campbell, a transfer from SMU and The Advertiser's State Player of the Year in 2003, who is leading the team with eight points (two goals, four assists). She filled in as a central midfielder.

"She's a terrific soccer player and she should play in any number of places," Tenzing said. "She can help us in lots of ways, and I really appreciate her leadership as an older player on the field."

With the return of Domingo and Bohlman, Tenzing said it will be a "game-time" decision as to where the three will play.

Butler, of the Horizon League, upset Dayton, which was ranked 32nd nationally, Sunday.

The Bulldogs, of Indianapolis, are led by freshman midfielder Angie Muir, who leads the team with 17 points and has either scored or assisted on 11 (six goals, five assists) of the team's 12 goals.

Tenzing said Hawai'i's midfield was vulnerable because of injuries, but Domingo and Bohlman are "tigers," and would deal with Muir.

Robert Morris of the Northeast Conference started the season 2-0 but dropped its last four games. The Colonials, of Moon Township, Pa., are led by junior forward Hilary Nellis, who has three goals.

Note: The University of Hawai'i has secured a verbal committment for the 2006 season in defender Julia Siljestrom of Cocoa Beach, Fla.

Siljestrom, who was born on Maui but moved when she was 1 1/2, made an official visit in August, when Hawai'i played George Mason. She gave her verbal commitment the next week.

"I just loved the overall feeling everyone gave me; they were so welcoming," she said.

As a junior, she was named to the Florida Sports Writers Association 2005 girls all-state soccer teams for Class 5A, and she was a member of Florida's ODP team from 2000 to 2004.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.