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Monday, August 28, 2000

By Ronen Zilberman, Star-Bulletin
Hawaii's Arlene Devitt, right, who has four goals in two games,
is chased by Wyoming's Jessica Piccone.

Wahine shut out
Wyoming Cowgirls for
own tourney title

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By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

There is nothing more pleasing for a coaching staff than to see a team demonstrate progress from one match to the next.

With opening-night jitters out of the way, the University of Hawaii women's soccer team played a more composed match yesterday before 703 fans at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

Hawaii also lined up with one more midfielder and one less striker which helped the Wahine dominate much of the match.

The result? Hawaii won the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Invitational with a 2-0 victory over the University of Wyoming Cowgirls.

Wyoming defeated Boise State, 2-1, in double overtime Saturday.

"Tonight we settled down more and controlled the ball more," said Wahine defender Camille Kalama. "The communication was better, especially in the midfield. They really sorted it out tonight."

Hawaii goalkeeper Demarre Sanchez, who has a unique view of the action on the field, could see a difference from Friday night's 2-2 tie against Boise State.

"We played on the ground strategically and not just kick ball," Sanchez said. "We actually passed it around and worked our way up field."

The Cowgirls actually got the first shot off at 5:13 and Sanchez had to make a diving save on Katrina Morton's 15-yard attempt. But, it wasn't until 39 minutes had passed that Wyoming managed another shot on goal.

Jennifer Starsiak set up the first UH goal with an excellent run up the right side, eluding two defenders before crossing to freshman Arlene Devitt from just off the goal line.

Devitt one-timed the ball, and it may have been deflected, but it rolled into the goal at 18:40 for the first Wahine lead of the season.

During the next 65 minutes, the Wahine created a number of dangerous chances.

Devitt hit the left post, Megan Lytle was just wide from 12-yards out on an uncontested try, Tiffany Makue was wide right from eight-yards out, Lytle hit the crossbar and Veronica Flores had a header just clear the bar.

"Our attempts at finishing were the result of all work. There were no flukes in there. We took the ball down the flanks well," said UH head coach Pinsoom Tenzing. "The goals will come."

Devitt was in the right spot at 82:30 when Flores left-footed a hard, low shot from the left side that Wyoming goalkeeper Amanda Vandervort parried right to Devitt who pushed the ball into the net.

"I'm happy in every sense with our tactics tonight," said Tenzing. "They were going to the ball aggressively and then, more than anything else, protecting the ball. I think their aggression on the ball was five times better than Friday."

The solo shutout was the seventh in Sanchez's career, tying the school record.

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UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii