Tenzing has no choice,
By Al Chase
must shuffle UH lineup
Star-BulletinThe University of Hawaii women's soccer team open the Outrigger Hotels No Ka Oi Tournament tomorrow night at 7 at Ala Wai Field against Colorado College (5-2-2), a team UH head coach Pinsoom Tenzing describes as "very solid, in and out of the Top 20 all season." However, a starting lineup is the biggest concern for Tenzing.
"I'm looking at some radical changes," he said.
Freshman midfielder and leading scorer Jennifer Hamm will not play this week. Striker Lara Anzai also will not play and striker Tricia Nishikawa will see limited action at best in the Wahine's (3-4-1) matches tomorrow and Friday.
Hamm, with two goals and one assist, suffered a contusion to her right quadriceps muscle (leg) against Cal State Northridge last Friday and has been on crutches ever since.
Anzai, with two goals, was sick on the road trip and needs to recover from a low blood cell count.
Nishikawa, also with two goals, has an injured right ankle and is listed as day-to-day.
Sweeper Denise Tsukada and striker/defender Valerie Marciel both hurt ankles and midfielder Malia Beter injured her right knee on the road trip, but they are expected to play.
This translates into players who are healthy shifting positions to fill the voids caused by injuries.
"I doubt I'll know just what the final shifts are until after practice Wednesday," Tenzing said.
The UH coach knows it's a tall order to fill Hamm's spot.
Without her operating, the Wahine had a difficult time maintaining possession in the middle of the field on the road trip.
TOP STRIKERS: According to Tenzing, Pepperdine (2-5-0) has two of the top strikers in the nation: 5-foot-9 freshman Tracy Milburn and 6-0 sophomore Jennifer Peterson.
Colorado College is led by 5-10 junior Robin Bilski, who had 14 goals and six assists last year.
"The opposing coaches know about them," Tenzing said.
No Ka Oi Tournament
