Thursday, October 22, 1998
Wahine have shot at
By Al Chase
WAC playoffs
Star-BulletinThe four Pacific Division qualifiers for the Western Athletic Conference postseason women's soccer tournament will be known by Sunday night.
Entering the final week of league competition, Brigham Young and San Diego State are already in the tournament.
Hawaii, Fresno State, San Jose State, Utah and Nevada-Las Vegas are battling for the remaining two division tournament berths.
San Jose State (3-14 overall, 1-4 conference) needs a victory in tomorrow night's match against Hawaii to keep its slim hopes alive.
Hawaii (9-6, 1-3) can put itself in a very good position by defeating San Jose State and Fresno State Sunday. Both matches start at 7 p.m. at Ala Wai Field.
Despite all five teams having a mathematical chance at the playoffs, if form holds true in today's and Saturday's matches in Utah, the Wahine will qualify with two victories this weekend.
"The girls know the overall picture, but if they don't take one match at a time, the season will be over tomorrow," Wahine head coach Pinsoom Tenzing said.
"We talked about San Jose State and what they bring to the table. I think Momi Aiu (Spartans defender from Kailua High School) will be big time. She's coming home and is a strong player.
"Another player we tried to recruit, midfielder Megan Nelson, is a wonderful player."
The Spartans' record is a bit misleading. Among their 14 losses are 10 one-goal defeats, including four by a 1-0 score at home. Senior midfielder Dina Schindler is the top goal scorer with four.
Hawaii did not come close to making the tournament in its first two seasons of WAC play. Tenzing says nothing short of a total effort from the Wahine is necessary to change that this weekend.
"We're going to have to put away (scoring) chances and play good defense. Our midfield must be composed and the goalkeeping can't let up."
In other words, the Wahine have to play with the same intensity and intelligence this weekend as they did against San Diego State last Friday.
The key for the Wahine rests with the midfield play of Wendy Miyashiro, Megan Lytle, Tui Moe and Jennifer Starsiak. Solid work there means less pressure on the defense and more opportunities for the strikers.
HOME & AWAY: Hawaii is 7-2 at home, outscoring opponents, 21-10. On the road, UH is 2-4 and has been outscored, 15-7. San Jose State has been outscored, 15-7 and is 3-8 at home. The Spartans are 0-6 (4-16) on the road. Fresno State is 5-1-1 (11-3) at home and 2-6-2 (13-25) on the road.
SERIES RECORDS: Hawaii is 0-3 in matches with San Jose State and 0-1-1 against Fresno State. In overtime matches, the Wahine are 0-2, the Spartans are 1-3 and the Bulldogs are 1-2-2.
WAC Women
Pacific Division
Conference Overall W L T Pts W L T San Diego St 4 0 0 8 13 1 0 Brigham Young 4 0 0 8 13 2 0 Fresno St 2 2 1 5 7 7 3 Nev-Las Vegas 1 2 1 3 8 6 1 Utah 1 3 0 2 9 6 0 Hawaii 1 3 0 2 9 6 0 San Jose St 1 4 0 0 3 14 0
Conference Overall W L T Pts W L T So. Methodist 4 1 0 8 8 7 0 Texas-El Paso 3 1 0 6 11 4 0 Tulsa 3 1 0 6 11 5 0 Air Force 2 2 0 4 6 9 0 Texas Christian 2 3 0 4 8 7 0 Wyoming 1 3 0 2 4 10 0 New Mexico 0 4 0 0 1 12 2
San Diego State at Utah
Nevada-Las Vegas at Brigham Young
San Jose State at Hawaii, 7 p.m., at Ala Wai Field.
Air Force at Texas-El Paso
Wyoming at New Mexico
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
