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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, September 29, 2007

Hawaii tops Weber State, 1-0

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Rainbow Wahine kept their undefeated home record intact with a 1-0 win over Weber State in a non-conference soccer game last night at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

Junior midfielder Kelli-Anne Chang scored her first goal of the season on a feed by senior midfielder Jessica Domingo for the lone score of the game as the Rainbow Wahine (6-2-1) improved to 6-0-1 at home this season in front of 792 fans.

"Being at home is amazing," Chang said. "There's nothing like it. When you come home, with the fans, it's just more comfortable."

Domingo set up Chang's 37th-minute goal on a pass past a defender up the middle of the field. Chang, who tied for the team lead in goals last season, dribbled to her right to evade a Weber State defender inside the 18-yard box and shot past Wildcats goalkeeper Deysha Victorine, a Kamehameha Schools alum.

"Taryn (Fukuroku) did a good job taking her defender into space," Chang said. That opened up an open lane for Chang, who saw Victorine "step out a little, and it gave me open space."

The Rainbow Wahine ended a two-game losing streak, with both losses coming on a road trip last weekend.

Showing why they are more comfortable playing at home, the Rainbow Wahine — without starters Tehane Higa (ankle) at defender and outside midfielder Kristen Oshiro (knee) — had two almost-there chances on shots set up by passing combinations in the first 10 minutes.

"It's so nice to be back home," Domingo said. "Having the fans, it's what we miss on the road. Having the home field advantage — we're used to the climate, and the field, and the fan support pushes us over the top and makes us that much more successful."

Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said the Rainbow Wahine played a good first half, but because of injuries he was limited in his substitution options, and he didn't "feel safe experimenting" with the lineup.

What Tenzing was worried about before the game — a young defense with strong scoring potential by the Wildcats — was handled by the defense of senior Lehua Wood and freshmen Nicole Mikula, Mari Punzal and Chelsea Deptula.

While there were some scary moments for the Rainbow Wahine, including a point-blank shot on a one-on-one with UH goalkeeper Kori Lu that sailed high and a free kick that pinged off the crossbar, the defense limited Weber State to nine shots, three on goal.

Lu tied the career solo shutout record of 10 with Demarre Sanchez (1997-2000).

Hawai'i plays Hawai'i Pacific in a televised game Sunday at 5 p.m. at Waipi'o.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.