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Monday, October 30, 2000
The future (freshman Kalena Eaton) and soon-to-be past (senior Lea Wakabayashi) combined for two goals as the University of Hawaii women's soccer team won its season finale, 2-0, over Hawaii Pacific last night. Wahine defeat HPU
in soccer finaleBy Al Chase
Star-BulletinA crowd of 1,357 fans at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium saw the nonconference match between the Wahine (5-12-3) and the Sea Warriors (10-6-0).
UH overcame a first half in which they dominated early with speed and wing play, then fell into a long uncharacteristic trance of playing one long ball after another.
"When the game gets easy everybody gets ambitious and starts sending hopeful balls and it makes no tactical sense. That's what I told them at halftime," said UH head coach Pinsoom Tenzing.
"HPU outplayed us in the middle of the field and I worried. The ball is round, not discriminatory. You play badly, you lose."
HPU's game plan was to nullify Hawaii's outside speed with as many as eight defenders, then try to capitalize with counterattacks.
Dawn Dasher had a golden opportunity to hit an open net from 9 yards out 1:43 into the match, but HPU's Mytra Dileonardo blocked and cleared the ball with a great defensive play.
The Wahine discovered their passing game more consistently in the second half and broke the scoreless tussle at 56:20.
Sophomore midfielder Wanette Miyashiro's corner kick from the left was headed home by Eaton.
"I just watched the ball. I didn't have to focus on it because it was right there," said Eaton. "I felt pressure but it was a perfect kick. I didn't have to think about it."
Moments later Malia Beter cut in from the right side, but her left-foot shot rebounded off the point where the crossbar joins the post.
The Sea Warriors stayed with their game plan and created two golden chances by wide open, unmarked players at 74:48 and 78:41.
Both Jill Fujimoto, on the right from 10 yards out with a slight angle, and Dawn Ifuku, 13 yards out from the left post, sent their attempts sailing over the crossbar.
"They found themselves so wide open they didn't know what to do," said HPU head coach Mark Kane.
Escaping those close calls, the Wahine got back on offense.
Senior Megan Lytle, after a 15-yard run up the left middle, fired a low shot toward the right post that a diving HPU goalkeeper Yoni Espiritu could only deflect a few feet. Wakabayashi was waiting and punched a shot over the prone Espiritu into the open net at 80:37.
It was Wakabayashi's second career goal and the 14th career assist for Lytle, who holds the UH record in that category.
The Sea Warriors' record is their best ever.
"The seniors really stepped up and that's why our program has turned the corner and become successful," said Kane.
"Right through this season and this game, everyone put their effort in there. We were competitive."
WAHINE 2, SEA WARRIORS 0
Hawaii Pacific 0 0- 0 Hawaii 0 2- 2 UH: Kalena Eaton (Wanette Miyashiro), 56:20.
UH: Lea Wakabayashi (Megan Lytle), 80:37.
Shots-UH 16, HPU 9. Saves-UH 3, HPU 6. Corner kicks-UH 9, HPU 0. Fouls-UH 7, HPU 6. Offsides-UH 0, HPU 0. A-1,357.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
