StarBulletin.com

No. 2 Stanford routs Hawaii


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POSTED: Monday, August 24, 2009

A 6-2 loss to Stanford in the final game of the OHANA Hotels and Resorts No Ka Oi Tournament yesterday was a harsh reminder of the things the Hawaii women's soccer team needs to work on.

But there were also some positives to build on after a tough weekend in which the Rainbow Wahine went 0-1-1 against ranked teams after Friday's 0-0 tie against No. 25 Brigham Young.

A defense that lost two All-WAC starters from a year ago posted a shutout in the opener against a top-level offense in the Cougars.

Offensively, Hawaii came through with two goals against a Cardinal squad that didn't allow one in 17 of their 22 games last season on the way to the NCAA College Cup semifinals.

“;(Stanford) is the very best team we have ever played,”; Hawaii coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. “;They are miles ahead of any other team we've played.

“;Although they are a really wonderful team, we were second to the ball every single time and there is no excuse for that. We needed to give them a more difficult game.”;

Chelsea Deptula started in goal for the second straight game, but again was replaced in the first 4 minutes.

Freshman Kristina Ehrett, who had five saves Friday, took over and immediately surrendered a goal to Stanford's Kelley O'Hara.

O'Hara, a second-team All-American as a junior last season and Stanford's leading scorer, made a perfect run on a pass from Christen Press and found herself all alone against Ehrett. She pushed the ball to her right foot and connected on a shot in the right corner of the goal to give the Cardinal an early 1-0 lead.

“;We gave up an early goal right at the beginning of the game and that set the tone,”; Tenzing said.

The Cardinal offense really started to take over late in the half with a barrage of scoring opportunities that netted two more goals for a 3-0 halftime lead.

Stanford had 17 shots to Hawaii's two in the half, including seven on goal, forcing Ehrett to come up with four saves for the Rainbow Wahine.

“;We still have kinks we've got to work out, and I think this game just proved that we have a lot to work on,”; Deptula said.

Hawaii finally came through for its first goal of the season in the 54th minute as freshman Skye Shimabukuro passed the ball in the middle to an open Rachel Domingo.

“;Skye's a quick, phenomenal player and she crossed it and I was able to finish,”; Domingo said. “;It felt good.”;

Stanford added three more goals on UH goalkeeper Kanani Taaca, who replaced Ehrett in the second half and also finished with four saves.

O'Hara and Press led Stanford with two goals apiece.

Britta Bourne netted the second goal for Hawaii in the 81st minute off an assist from Ambree Ako. The Cardinal didn't allow more than one goal in a game all of last year.

“;Stanford is Stanford,”; Domingo said. “;To be able to score two goals against them I think says something.”;

Next up for the Rainbow Wahine is a home match against Hawaii Pacific on Sunday at 5 p.m.