Sunday, November 11, 2001
[ WAHINE SOCCER ]
DALLAS >> The exciting run by the fourth-seeded Wahine ended last night when top seed and host Southern Methodist claimed the Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship with a 2-0 victory. Wahine stopped in
WAC title matchStar-Bulletin staff
The Lady Mustangs earn the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament and will learn tomorrow morning who they play in the first round.
Despite being runner-up, Hawaii (10-10) will be a long, long shot to receive an at-large bid to the 64-team tournament field. UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing said that after the early season loss to Eastern Washington, his team would have to win the WAC to go to the NCAA Tournament because of UH's strength of schedule.
To take control of the regular-season match here three weeks ago, SMU coach George Van Linder had the Lady Mustangs apply as much pressure as possible on the Wahine midfielders and defenders. He upped the challenge last night and it paid dividends.
"SMU's pressure completely baffled us. There was more pressure in this match than the last one," said Tenzing.
"The only way to relieve that pressure was to move the ball on the ground, but we were much too nervous in the beginning. I tried to settle them down at halftime, but we used the long ball too much and the Lady Mustangs were waiting for those balls with their superior heading ability.
"We did not play well, but we kept our heads up. SMU was much too strong today."
The pressure allowed the Lady Mustangs (15-3) to outshoot UH 23-4 and hold an 11-1 advantage in corner kicks.
SMU got on the scoreboard at the 17:29 mark, thanks to an own goal by Hawaii's Carmel Hurley. She attempted to clear a shot toward the net, only to misjudge the ball and watch it cross over the goal line and into the net.
Senior striker Sarah Harvey gave SMU an insurance goal at 57:08 with a header off a free kick from junior defender Diana Kelm.
The Lady Mustangs have won three of the last five WAC tournaments.
The Wahine, who were playing for the championship for the first time in their eight-year history, managed just one shot in the second half.
Four Hawaii players -- strikers Veronica Flores and Arlene Devitt, defender Hurley and midfielder Liz Lusk -- were named to the all-tournament team.
"I think we're generally delighted with the season. It's been a pleasure," Tenzing said.
The Wahine return home today on Continental flight No. 1, arriving at 1:55 p.m.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
