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Wednesday, September 27, 2000

Wahine hope to end
losing skid in WAC

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By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

The last thing the University of Hawaii women's soccer team needs to deal with as Western Athletic Conference play begins is a seven-match losing streak.

How the Wahine handle the losing skid, an unsettled lineup and the opening of WAC play should become clearer this week.

Hawaii head coach Pinsoom Tenzing has maintained throughout the losing streak that the goal of being ready for WAC play was always the focus.

"Every position is unique and you have to spend time at it and make it your own. Me shuffling them around like an AYSO team is chaotic not only for the team but for each individual," Tenzing said.

"The experimentation is over. Starting Thursday, the kids will play in the position they are used to, where they have practiced."

The good news is senior goalkeeper Demarre Sanchez has been cleared to play and most likely will start tomorrow.

The Wahine are 1-4-0 all-time against San Jose State, tomorrow's 7 p.m. opponent at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

They leave the following day for a one-game road trip and a Sunday match against Fresno State.

UH has never won or even scored a goal in Bulldog Stadium.

Here is a look at Hawaii's WAC opponents in the order they appear on the Wahine schedule.

San Jose State:

The Spartans (4-7-0), under first-year head coach Tamie Grimes, have experienced problems at the offensive end.

They have scored just one goal in losing four consecutive matches, the last three shutout.

Junior midfielder Brandy Apodaca is the leading scorer with four goals and an assist.

Midfielder Jennifer Mescher, SJSU's leading scored a year ago, has one goal and four assists.

Eryn Meyer, who started the last five matches in the goal, has a 1.58 goals allowed per match average.

Fresno State:

The Bulldogs (7-3-0) have recorded four consecutive shutouts after a 3-3 start.

FSU returns its entire front line - Jill Pearson, Reyna Green and Morgan Oliveira - and four starting midfielders, Amber Houchen, Andrea Morelock, Jessica Plesch and Aimee Thompson.

Pearson has scored 12 goals and has five assists to hold a 10-point lead in the WAC statistics. Green and Thompson are tied for fifth with 10 points.

Goalkeeper Mary-tyler Wahl has an 0.59 goals allowed average.

Oddly enough, all three Bulldog losses have been at home.

Nevada:

The first-year Wolfpack's (2-7-0) wins have come against Southern Nevada Community College and Western Baptist.

Nevada has been blanked six times and could still be looking for its first win over an NCAA Division I opponent when it plays the Wahine here Oct. 8.

Kaula Rowe, a freshman from Kamehameha, leads the Wolfpack with four goals.

Nevada has been giving up almost three goals a match.

Texas-El Paso:

WAC Player of the Week Kelly Parker, a sophomore midfielder, leads the Miners (4-5-0). She has scored six goals, including three game-winners, and has three assists.

Junior Laura Glasspoole is the playmaking midfielder who set a school record with nine assists in 1999. She has help from sophomore Katherine McShane.

Sophomore Sarah Park has replaced four-year starter Amanda Smith in the goal. Park's goal against average is 1.71.

Tulsa:

Julie Twellman (6 goals, 3 assists) and Melissa McCormick (3 goals, 4 assists) are the top scorers for the Golden Hurricane (4-3-1).

Tulsa hopes to rebound from just its third losing season (1999) is 13 years of the women' program.

Freshman Pam Devore won a three-way goalkeeper battle and has 1.30 goals allowed average.

Tulsa has been outshot, 153-117, but the Golden Hurricane has outscored its opponents, 18-10.

Texas Christian:

The Horned Frogs (5-5-1) won five of their first eight matches, then lost three road games, the last two 6-0 to both Duke and North Carolina.

Sherry Dick (4 goals) and Jennifer Maunder (3 goals) lead an offense that has scored just 13 times in 11 matches.

Southern Methodist:

The Lady Mustangs (6-3-0) are ranked No. 16 this week in the American Soccer Coaches Association poll.

The defending WAC champions have six players with two or more goals. Sophomore Misty Noland and freshman Ashley VanMeter each have scored four times.

Senior Holly Broome anchors the Lady Mustangs defense.

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UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii