The University of Hawai'i women's soccer team took the important step of winning the first of a three-game home conference stand last night.

The Rainbow Wahine defeated Louisiana Tech, 1-0, to improve to 2-1 in the Western Athletic Conference in front of 673 fans at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

"It's a huge, huge win," Hawai'i captain Jessica Domingo said. "You have to win at home. You're comfortable here and everything is going your way. This is our house. We can't let them come in and win."

In a game with numerous missed chances by the Rainbow Wahine, sophomore midfielder Kelli-Anne Chang singlehandedly created her own to score the lone goal.

Starting from the right flank, Chang dribbled to the top of the penalty box where she beat three defenders — including putting the ball between one defender's legs — freeing herself up in the penalty box and shooting a left-footed ball over goalkeeper Jill Medigovich's head in the 60th minute.

"I was trying to get closer because the beginning part of the game we'd been trying to shoot from far out," Chang said. "I thought if I got closer we'd have a better chance."

Chang hesitated slightly, looking to her left to Hawai'i midfielder Alexis Choi before choosing to take the shot herself.

Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing called Chang's decision the "good soccer thing by shooting. There's no substitution for magic and she was magical."

Hawai'i (8-6-2) continues WAC play tomorrow at 5 p.m. against Utah State (6-7-1, 1-0-1), which tied San Jose State, 0-0, last night.

The Lady Techsters (4-6-2, 0-2), in their second WAC season, have yet to win a league game.

Hawai'i took nine shots on goal to one by Louisiana Tech. Tenzing said the team missed too many shots from the penalty box.

"We played decently, but as long as you don't score, the other team is always in the game," Domingo said.

Tenzing credited goalkeeper Kori Lu with playing a "sweeper/keeper," whose positioning prevented the Lady Techsters from recording shots.

Hawai'i had three solid scoring chances in the first 20 minutes. In the sixth minute, Chang's shot went wide right after she was set up by freshman forward Ambree Ako.

Kristen Oshiro had a chance in the 18th minute after junior defender Koren Takeyama stole a ball near midfield then passed to the right to freshman forward Emily Chun. Chun kept the ball moving to the right with a through ball for Oshiro. Oshiro's shot was blocked out of bounds by Medigovich.

The following minute, a clear by junior defender Shawn Higa allowed sophomore forward Taryn Fukuroku to attempt to head the ball over Medigovich's head, but she made the save.

Chun took two shots that sailed high to start the second half. One was on a through pass from Fukuroku, and the other off a pass from Oshiro.

The Rainbow Wahine lost Ako in the 29th minute to a right ankle sprain. They also played without defender Kelly McCloskey, who has an injured knee.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.