Thursday, October 8, 1998
Tough road ahead for UH
By Al Chase
Star-BulletinIf the Hawaii women's soccer team is going to challenge in the Western Athletic Conference's Pacific Division, then tomorrow's league-opening match at Brigham Young is a good place to start.
In eight days the Wahine play four opponents that are ranked and have a combined 33-8 record.
BYU (9-2) is the WAC coaches' preseason pick to win the Pacific Division. The Cougars are ranked 22nd by Soccer Times and 25th in the NSCAA/Umbro and Soccer Buzz polls. They are coming off a 3-2 overtime win over host and No. 9 (NSCAA/Umbro) Stanford Monday.
Sunday's opponent Utah (8-3) and Tuesday's nonconference foe Weber State (8-2) are tied for 10th in the Soccer Buzz West Regional rankings. And, the WAC home opener Oct. 16 is against nationally ranked (No. 9, Soccer Buzz) San Diego State.
"We need to do well in the WAC. We've got four games at home and I look forward to those. I don't look forward to the games in Utah," UH head coach Pinsoom Tenzing said.
"I'm not afraid of playing any one here. On the road it's a different story. I'm afraid of anybody and everybody. The thing we depend on - speed - seems to dissipate on the road and I don't know why. But, we should be competitive."
Success on the road will depend on the Wahine being able to play their brand of pressure soccer right from the opening whistle. On the last road trip, they waited until the second half. That won't work against BYU and Utah.
One reason for UH's 7-2 start is the role played by newcomers. Two freshmen recruits, strikers Veronica Flores and Jennifer Starsiak, have started every match. Starsiak has two goals and an assist. Flores has worked diligently to get 19 shots, eight on goal, but leads the team in hitting the posts and cross bar.
Freshman midfielder Kelly Keohen has seen substantial playing time off the bench and had her best match of the season against Villanova last Friday.
Erin Schremser, a freshman defender who missed one start because of a sprained ankle, has shown the maturity of a veteran in solidifying the back line. She also puts her strong right foot into most of the free kicks awarded the Wahine.
Three juniors, Kammie Aguada (New Mexico Highlands transfer), Nikki Kamakura and Camille Kalama, all walk-ons, have played in every match. Kamakura, who played club soccer with Leahi the past two years while attending Leeward Community College, has two goals. Aguada and Kalama each have one.
POLLS: UH moved up to ninth in this week's Soccer Buzz West Region rankings. San Diego State is third and BYU sixth.
SITE CHANGE: The match against Cal Lutheran will be played Oct. 19 at 4 p.m. at the UH campus field, the first official women's match held on campus.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
