Thursday, October 7, 1999

Wahine soccer
team’s goal
is respect

Hawaii has missed the playoffs
in each of its three WAC seasons
and is picked by coaches
to finish last

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

The University of Hawaii women's soccer team left for the mainland today to begin its quest for Western Athletic Conference respectability.

In three previous conference campaigns, Hawaii has not qualified for the WAC playoffs. This year, the top four teams qualify.

The Wahine take the 16th best defense (0.68 goals allowed per match) to California for encounters with Fresno State and San Jose State.

Hawaii is solid on defense. However, head coach Pinsoom Tenzing is still waiting for the offense, which looks very competent in practice, to duplicate that effort against an opponent.

"I'm still wondering at this point. They move the ball so well in practice. It's a puzzle I don't understand," Tenzing said.

"In past years when we were not so good, we had some beautiful games, but I've yet to enjoy that this year. I'm hoping the WAC is where they will turn it on."

UH's weekend opponents actually started the WAC season Tuesday and played to a 0-0 tie.

The match at Fresno State was physical and got ugly in the second half, when eight yellow cards were given out resulting in three ejections. San Jose State's Jolene Keel and head coach Philippe Blim left early, as did FSU's Aimee Thompson.

The match deteriorated into a long-ball contest between the 18-yard lines. This is exactly the kind of match the Wahine do not want to be involved in.

A look at Hawaii's six conference rivals follows:

Fresno State:

Soccer America's 20th-ranked Bulldogs own a six-match (5-0-1) unbeaten streak that includes a victory over No. 13 Southern Cal.

FSU is second only to UH in goals allowed and goalkeeper Jennifer Johnstone has six shutouts.

Jill Pearson (5 goals) and Reyna Green (5 assists) are the top offensive threats.

Southern Methodist:

New head coach George Van Linder welcomed nine starters back, including four all-conference players and 1998's top five scorers.

The Mustangs are 15th in the coaches' poll and have won six consecutive matches.

Sophomores Sarah Harvey (6 goals, 2 assists) and Tara Comfort (5, 4) and senior Laura Snyder (4, 3) generate offense while Shelby Stone anchors the third-best defense in the WAC.

San Jose State:

The Spartans ended UH's playoff hopes in '98 and appear just as strong in 1999. They have a 2-1 road victory over Portland.

Karli Silveira (9) and Jennifer Mescher (7) are the top goal scorers in the WAC. The Spartans average 2.33 goals per match.

Kailua's Momi Aiu, a senior, quarterbacks the defense from her sweeper position.

Tulsa:

The Golden Hurricanes had a four-match win streak early in the season, then lost three consecutive road encounters by a combined score of 19-4.

In their last match before WAC play, Tulsa edged Oral Roberts, 3-2, in double overtime.

The Golden Hurricanes lead the WAC in shots taken and rank second in goals scored, but are last in goals allowed.

Sophomore Melissa McCormick and junior Julie Davidson have scored six goals each while freshman Julie Twellman has five goals and three assists.

Texas-El Paso:

The Miners are coming off their best season (school record 13 wins).

Head coach Veronica O'Brien has 10 starters back, led by playmaker Laura Glasspoole, the 1998 WAC Mountain Division Player of the Year. Glasspoole is second in the conference in assists (6).

Goalie Amanda Smith played every minute last year and is averaging six saves per match this year while posting four shutouts.

Texas Christian:

The Horned Frogs' record is misleading. They have played a tough preseason schedule. All five defeats have been to nationally ranked teams (Texas A&M, Harvard, Baylor, San Diego and UCLA).

The team is young, with only seven juniors and seniors. Allison Calleri, a senior, has 11 points (4 goals, 3 assists), but freshman strikers Jenn Coulson (3, 3) and Sherry Dick (4, 0) are contributing big time.

The coaches preseason poll: 1. Fresno State. 2. Southern Methodist. 3. San Jose State. 4. Texas-El Paso. 5. Texas Christian. 6. Tulsa. 7. Hawaii.

WAC WOMEN'S SOCCER

		Conference		Overall
Team		W	L	T	W	L	T
Fresno St.		0	0	1	8	3	1
So. Methodist	0	0	0	8	3	0
San Jose St.	0	0	1	8	4	0
Tulsa.		0	0	0	6	4	0
Texas-El Paso	0	0	0	6	4	1
Texas Christian	0	0	0	7	5	0
Hawaii		0	0	0	5	4	1

Tuesday's result

San Jose State 0, Fresno State 0 (2 OT)

Tomorrow's matches

Hawaii at Fresno State
Texas-El Paso at Texas Christian
Tulsa at Southern Methodist
San Jose State at Cal State Sacramento

Sunday's matches

Hawaii at San Jose State
Tulsa at Texas Christian
Texas-El Paso at Southern Methodist
Cal State Sacramento at Fresno State

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