Thursday, September 27, 2001
Hawaii women's soccer coach Pinsoom Tenzing called this weekend's road trip "huge" for the Wahine who have lost their last two matches after holding a lead. Wahine go on road for
‘huge’ nonconference matchesBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comNot only are these three matches the final nonconference tests for Hawaii, the Wahine will be playing two ranked teams in four days with a rematch against Cal State Sacramento in between.
Tomorrow's opponent, the St. Mary's Gaels (6-0-1), are ranked No. 24 in the latest National Collegiate Soccer Coaches Association poll. The California Golden Bears (6-1-0), Monday's foe, are No. 6.
"This trip comes on the heels of two games we should have won. That's my feeling," said UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing.
"Defeats are always demoralizing, to say the least. And, right after this trip we go to play Tulsa."
The Wahine will have a weekend off between the road trips to further prepare for the Western Athletic Conference opener against the Golden Hurricane, followed two days later by a match at Rice.
"The chronology of events is not good if we don't stay focused. There is a possibility of us not winning two of the three games on this trip. If we are distracted, we won't win for sure."
The Wahine will be without sophomore midfielder Kalena Eaton who reinjured her right leg in last Saturday's match against Cal State Northridge. It's the same leg she had ACL surgery on last spring. Hopefully Eaton will be ready for WAC play.
Sophomore striker Arlene Devitt, UH's leading scorer, will make the trip despite a swollen face, the result of being whacked just above the eyebrows in the first half of Saturday's match.
Senior defender Erin Schremser has recovered from a hamstring injury and will make the trip.
St. Mary's has outscored its opponents, 18-3, outshot them, 134-71, and posted five consecutive shutouts.
"They have improved every year and have been overlooked by the NCAA selection committee the last two years," Tenzing said.
Cal State Sacramento is 2-3 since a season-opening loss to Hawaii. The Hornets have shutout Eastern Washington and UC Riverside, but have been shutout themselves in the three defeats.
California's program has been rejuvenated under fifth-year head coach Kevin Boyd, familiar to many of Hawaii's soccer players for his work with the Olympic development program.
Laura Schott tops the Bears, who host Fresno State today, with six goals. She is an under-21 national team member and played five matches with the U.S. women's team last spring.
Boyd's 2000 recruiting class included U-18 national team players Cami Boswell, Kim Yokers and Kassie Doubrava.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii