Cavaliers give Wahine the boot in exhibition match

The Virginia Cavaliers scored in each half to defeat Hawaii 2-0 in an exhibition match at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium last night.

A paying crowd of 682 thinned out considerably in the second half as heavy rains drenched the stadium.

"I wanted to see how we would perform against one of the best Division I teams, as you saw in the first half, in the country," said UH soccer coach Pinsoom Tenzing.

"Now that we have seen one of the best we can get ready for the rest."

The Cavaliers' back line of Amanda Stewart, Becky Sauerbrunn, Alli Fries and Alex Singer controlled just about every ball in their half of the field in the first 45 minutes. They efficiently passed the ball from side to side until an opening for an offensive thrust appeared with few challenges from the Wahine strikers and attacking midfielders.

"I wanted them to calm down. We had a strong wind in our face and I knew UH would counterattack," said Virginia coach Steve Swanson.

"It is early in the spring for us and I didn't think we were as sharp as we were earlier in the week. The UH defense was compact and well organized. We let them hang around too long. We took too long to get the second goal."

The first shot on goal came 9 minutes into the half on a breakaway by Virginia's Sarah Sentry. Her effort was wide left.

The continued pressure paid off at 14:57. Shannon Foley worked the ball into the left corner, pivoted around a UH defender and crossed into the middle. Julia Falk, standing unmarked just inside the 6-yard box, volleyed the ball into the net.

The best and only shot by UH came with a minute left, but Kelli-Anne Chang's drive from the right side hit the outside of the net.

The Wahine began attacking more often and creating better chances in the second half, then the heavy rain hit.

"We don't play well in the rain, but I was very happy with the chances we created in the second half. We still have to learn to finish," said Tenzing.

UH freshman Ambree Ako put a ball through to sophomore Taryn Fukuroku 7 minutes into the second half, but her attempt to loft a shot over charging Virginia goalkeeper Chantel Jones sailed high and wide left.

Virginia scored its second goal at 75:28 when Sauerbrunn sent Jess Rostedt through with a well-placed ball. Rostedt dribbled around UH goalie Kori Lu before hitting the empty net just inside the left post.

Lu made two saves, both coming when she blocked Rostedt on a breakaway, then stuffed a rebound shot from Rostedt late in the match.