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Monday, October 9, 2000
Once the University of Hawaii Wahine figured out how to break a stacked defense, the goals came. Wahine soccer team
breaks throughBy Al Chase
Star-BulletinBunching their goals in the final 27 minutes, the Wahine won their first Western Athletic Conference match of the season last night, 4-0, before 1,364 fans at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
The first-year Nevada Wolfpack, with seven freshmen starters, deployed as many as nine players back on defense at times.
The tactic befuddled the Wahine in the first half, but reduced the Wolfpack offense to the occasional long ball in hopes of generating a fast-break goal.
With control of the field, the Wahine were able to work their passing game. And, they remained focused on the game plan even though the Wolfpack forced a 0-0 standoff at intermission.
"It wasn't really frustrating," said UH midfielder Kalena Eaton.
"We just had to open it up and use more of our wingers because we kept forcing it down the middle at first. Once we did that it opened up our game."
"Two things happened to loosen up the middle," UH head coach Pinsoom Tenzing said.
"Camille (Kalama) and Megan (Lytle) combined well on the left side and Mel (Hurley) and Malia (Beter) combined well on the right."
Veronica Flores had two wonderful scoring chances early in the second half but Nevada goalkeeper Chantel Reyna blocked a shot from close in and saved a header. At 62:10, Nevada's Shanelle Piano almost converted a fast break with a tough, left-footed shot that was curving toward the right post.
But Hawaii goalkeeper Demarre Sanchez dived and pushed the ball toward the sideline for her only save of the match.
Thirty-five seconds later the Wahine scored the first goal.
Eaton received the clearing pass in the middle and found Arlene Devitt just outside the box.
Devitt one-touched the ball to Flores who angled a shot inside the left post from 15 yards out.
Hurley set up the second goal with a long run up the right side. She lost the ball for a second, but pushed it to a waiting Devitt who spun around a defender to score.
Tenzing then brought the reserves in.
Dawn Dasher served a nice ball to Jen Starsiak cutting in from the right. Starsiak scored her third goal of the season with an 11-yard shot inside the near post at 81:26.
K.C. Cornett ended the scoring by converting Starsiak's deflected shot at 88.59.
"This game was one of the best games we've played," Devitt said. "We were moving for each other and our passing was way better than usual."
The Wahine will get a reality check when they see the weekend conference results.
Their first opponent on the upcoming road trip, Texas-El Paso, defeated host Fresno State, 4-0, yesterday.
Wahine 4, Wolfpack 0
Nevada 0 0--0 Hawaii 0 4--4 UH: Veronica Flores (Arlene Devitt), 62:45.
UH: Devitt (Carmel Hurley), 73:49.
UH: Jennifer Starsiak (Dawn Dasher), 81:26.
UH: K.C. Cornett (Starsiak), 88:59.
Shots-UH 26, UN 2. Saves-UH 1, UN 11. Corner kicks-UH 4, UN 0. Fouls-UH 13, UN 10. Offsides-UH 1, UN 3. A-1,364.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
