RAINBOW WAHINE SOCCER
Wahine overcome Lumberjacks, 2-1
From staff and wire reports
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. » The Hawaii women's soccer team rediscovered its scoring touch last night to finish the first mainland road trip of the season with a 1-1-1 record.
Taryn Fukuroku's goal in the second overtime period gave the Rainbow Wahine a 2-1 victory over the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in the nonconference match.
It was Hawaii's third overtime match in five days and the first home loss for the Lumberjacks (2-4) after two wins this season.
"It was a very tough game. They came flying at us at altitude and we had a hard time adjusting," said Wahine coach Pinsoom Tenzing.
"In the first half they caught us flat. We weren't winning head-balls as we normally do.
"They put high pressure on us with three forwards. Our defense was a little intimidated, but we had a good talk at halftime and they adjusted."
Northern Arizona broke a scoreless tie with a goal at 77:09 on an unassisted effort by Sarah Vallen.
The Wahine (4-2-1) did not wait long to equalize.
Kristen Oshiro pushed a ball up the right flank to Fukuroku. She centered the ball into the box where Ambree Ako dummied a shot as the ball went through to Kelli-Anne Chang.
Chang, standing 12 yards off the goal line, trapped and then drilled a shot into the right side of the net with her right foot at 81:51. It was her team-leading third goal of 2006.
The game-winning goal came at 108:33.
Ako controlled the ball in the middle of the field on the offensive side of the center circle. She fed a pass to Fukuroku inside the box on the right. Fukuroku fired a shot that hit the far post and bounced in for the second goal of the season.
"Taryn shot from an acute angle, but was able to push it in," said Tenzing.
"When we were down a goal with about 10 minutes to play, there was a sense of urgency and we stepped it up."
The Wahine return home today and open the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Shootout on Friday with a match against Cornell at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium.