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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, October 5, 2009

Fresno State blanks UH, 1-0


By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawai'i's Mari Punzal soars above Fresno State's Krissy Looney to head the ball during the first half at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

ANDREW SHIMABUKU | The Honolulu Advertiser

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After a "disappointing" performance, the University of Hawai'i women's soccer team dropped its second straight Western Athletic Conference game, starting conference play 0-2 for the first time since 1998.

Fresno State blanked Hawai'i, 1-0, in a WAC game last night at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium in front of 1,017. The Rainbow Wahine (4-8-1, 0-2-0 WAC) also hosted San Jose State Friday and lost, 1-0.

"This is a huge hole," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "These are big teams coming to Hawai'i. We had the home court advantage, we had the crowd behind us, we should have done much better."

In a first half when both teams were mostly held to shots taken from outside the 18-yard box, Fresno State scored after a cross from the left by Laura Dodd bounced off a Hawai'i defender and into the goal in the 38th minute. An assist was given to junior forward Nicole Duff on the play and Dodd was credited with the goal.

"The only goal that was scored never should have happened," Tenzing said. "The (Fresno State player) on this side was completely open and the defender who was responsible for her just looked at her. I think our goalkeeper should have had the ball and our left fullback touched it. That was a positional breakdown of one of the fullbacks."

The Bulldogs (3-8-0, 1-0-0) created another chance on a corner kick but UH senior defender Julia Siljestrom cleared the ball from the goal line five minutes into the second half.

Hawai'i's defensive miscues continued. A UH defender tried to pass a ball back to goalkeeper Kanani Taaca, but Fresno State's Callie Hancock intercepted in front of Taaca but misplayed the ball. Hancock had another chance in the 70th minute when she chased down a pass behind the Hawai'i defense but her shot missed wide left.

"I think we need a little more communication and we need to take everything slower," UH junior defender Chelsea Deptula said. "Just slowing the game down and not focusing on what the other team is doing."

Fresno State goalkeeper Kaitlyn Revel, the WAC Preseason Player of the Year, did not play.

The Bulldogs improved their all-time record against Hawai'i to 8-6-2.

"On Friday we played well and created lots of chances," Tenzing said.

"Tonight we didn't play well. It was very disappointing, the fact that they didn't play well."

Hawai'i takes a break from Division I competition this week as it plays its annual alumnae game Friday at 7 p.m. at Waipi'o.

It resumes WAC play on the road against Louisiana Tech (Oct. 16) and New Mexico State (Oct. 18).