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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, September 10, 2007

'Bows blank Tenn.-Martin

Photo galleryPhoto gallery: Hawaii-Tennessee-Martin soccer

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawai'i's Taryn Fukuroku dribbles the ball past Tennessee-Martin's Sophie Cox, middle, and Jamie Price in the first half. UH won, 3-0.

ANDREW SHIMABUKU | The Honolulu Advertiser

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With a set game plan in mind, the Rainbow Wahine soccer team received "another confidence booster" with a 3-0 win over Tennessee-Martin yesterday.

Hawai'i captured its second straight tournament title, in the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Classic at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium, led by first-half goals by juniors Taryn Fukuroku and Alexis Choi, and a second-half penalty kick by Tehane Higa.

Tennessee-Martin (1-2) lost to Pacific, 1-0, Saturday night. Hawai'i and Pacific tied, 2-2, Friday, but Hawai'i (3-0-1) won on goal differential.

"We went in with a game plan," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "We wanted to do combo plays, dribble in, take it to the outside and cross, and take long shots."

The Rainbow Wahine appeared ready to follow his instructions.

"I think using the outsides helped a lot," said Higa, a co-captain and the tournament's MVP. "They were open all day.

"(The win) was another confidence booster."

Fukuroku scored her second goal of the season in the eighth minute on a header. Junior midfielder Kristen Oshiro, set up on a pass to the right endline from defender Lehua Wood, crossed the ball to the middle of the 6-yard box for Fukuroku.

Choi scored her first career goal in the 33rd minute. It started when Higa's header off a corner kick by Oshiro was cleared off the goalline. After the ensuing corner kick was cleared and Fukuroku chased the ball down, she crossed it to Choi, who finished the play with a low, driving shot.

"I was just in the right spot at the right time," Choi said. "I didn't know it went in. I never scored before so it was a surprise to me."

Higa scored on a penalty kick into the right side of the goal in the 63rd minute after junior midfielder Kelli-Anne Chang was taken down in the box.

"I was nervous; I had to gather myself," Higa said.

The Skyhawks collapsed into a defensive lineup from the beginning, playing with four and sometimes five defenders. Hawai'i still penetrated.

In the opening minutes, a series of combo passes set up Fukuroku for a shot on goal, but her shot missed right. A nice run by freshman defender Chelsea Deptula resulted in a cross from the left side and a shot by Chang that was stopped by UTM goalkeeper Cara Sullivan.

Most Skyhawks' offensive attacks were halted with the offside trap. They were cited for nine violations to none by Hawai'i.

"In the back, we're adjusting better," Higa said. "I thought Lehua did a good job in talking."

The Rainbow Wahine took five shots on goal and outshot the Skyhawks 12-0 in the first half. For the game, Hawai'i finished with an 18-5 shots advantage. UTM's first shot came in the 64th minute. A shot by UTM's Jenni Duffy pinged off the crossbar a few minutes later.

In a rough game — "we kind of knew they would be physical," Higa said — there were three yellow cards issued to UTM in the first half (four total, including one to the coach), Tenzing was able to clear his bench, a "high priority of things I want to do," he said.

UH sophomore forward Ambree Ako, who leads the team with four goals, went out with 20 minutes left in the half with an apparent right ankle injury. Co-captain Jessica Domingo followed with five minutes left in the half, also with an ankle injury.

"I'm OK," said Domingo, who also sprained fingers on her left hand. "I'll play Friday."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.