Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Monday, October 23, 2000
Yesterdays soccer match featured a number of marvelous scoring opportunities but neither side could put the ball in the net. Soccer team saves
best for lastBy Al Chase
Star-BulletinA lot of the credit goes to the goalkeepers, Southern Methodist Universitys Becca Lief and Demarre Sanchez of the University of Hawaii.
Lief was forced to save half of Hawaii's 10 shots, but each one tested her abilities.
Sanchez was called on to make 18 saves, a Western Athletic Conference single-match record. She dived left and right to save shots and fisted several dangerous balls over the crossbar.
After 120 minutes, the Wahine and No. 14 ranked Lady Mustangs settled for a 0-0 tie in the last WAC regular-season match of 2000.
"This is one of those games where the purists realize a 0-0 tie is still pretty exciting," said SMUhead coach George Van Linder.
The crowd of 1,396 at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium agreed.
"It had everything in it. We both had chances to win which is why I think both teams deserved a tie," Van Linder said.
Neither team had its top goal scorer. Sarah Harvey strained a knee in SMUs match at Nevada on Thursday. UHs Arlene Devitt was sitting out a red card violation.
Since last Thursdays disappointing lost to Texas Christian, the Wahine talked about facing a nationally ranked team.
"This one was for pride since we arent going to the WAC (tournament)," said senior co-captain Camille Kalama, one of three UH field players to go the 120 minutes.
The Lady Mustangs used three strikers in a deliberate offense that poked and prodded, but resorted to the back pass when nothing opened up.
Nicole Lamb, Kim Harvey and Lorrie Tipton all unleashed shots on Sanchez in the first 17 minutes.
It took time for the Wahine to work the midfield, but when they did, they counterattacked well.
Lief dived to save on Veronica Flores at 30:19. Megan Lytles free kick around the wall just sailed wide of the left post at 35:18.
SMUs Ashley VanMeter hit the crossbar from eight yards out and the ball bounced down, but right to Sanchez at 64:48.
Flores whirled and sent a left-footed shot toward the right corner that Lief knocked wide at 78:37 with a sprawling foot save.
Two minutes later Dawn Dasher sent Lytle through unmarked with a perfect touch pass.
"I went for the upper corner because I didnt think she (Lief) could get it," Lytle said. Ishould have ripped it harder."
Lief one-handed the ball over the crossbar.
At 98:40 in the first overtime period, Lytles direct free kick was parried by Lief right to an onrushing Malia Beter. But, her header, four yards from an enticing net, floated over the bar.
In the second overtime, the Lady Mustangs headed three decent chances over the bar.
"Anybody could have won this," UH head coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "Regardless of what people think, these kids play really, really hard out there.
"We started slow tactically, but made adjustments at halftime and played brilliantly after that.
"Im happy the NCAA season ended somewhat positively."
Wahine 0, Lady Mustangs 0
Southern Methodist0000- 0
Hawaii0000- 0
Shots-UH 10, SMU 39. Saves-UH 22, SMU 5. Corner kicks-UH 5, SMU 9. Fouls-UH 16, SMU 15. Offsides-UH 6, SMU 3. A-1,396.
Yellow cards, UH: Megan Lytle (20:09), Tiffany Makue (63:45), Amanda Orand (89:58), Veronica Flores (109:09), Carmel Hurley (111.43). SMU:Mave McKinney (35:43), Holly Broome (72:07). Red card, UH: Flores (109:26).
WAC WOMEN
Through Oct. 22
Conference Overall Team W L T W L T So. Methodist 6 0 1 13 3 1 Tulsa 5 2 0 10 5 1 Texas Christian 5 2 0 10 7 1 San Jose State 3 3 1 7 11 1 Texas-El Paso 3 4 0 7 9 0 Fresno State 3 4 0 9 8 0 Hawaii 1 4 2 4 12 3 Nevada 0 7 0 3 13 0 Fridays results
San Jose State 2, Fresno State 1
Tulsa 2, Texas-El Paso 1
Yesterdays results
Hawaii 0, Southern Methodist 0 (2 OT)
Texas Christian 2, Nevada 1 (OT)
End regular season
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
