The Hawaii women's soccer team gets its first taste of Division I competition this weekend with matches against Alabama-Birmingham and Wyoming in the season-opening Ohana Hotels & Resorts No Ka Oi Tournament at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park. Wahine host
Wyoming, UAB at
Waipio this weekendBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThe Wahine showed the potential to hit the back of the net with seven goals in an exhibition encounter against feisty Douglas Junior College last week. Now, everything counts.
The same is true for tomorrow's opponent, Alabama-Birmingham, and Sunday's foe, Wyoming. The Cowgirls tied Northern Colorado in an exhibition, while the Blazers lost to Tennessee, but beat 14th-ranked Clemson in exhibitions.
"It may have been an exhibition, but that Clemson result says something," said UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing.
The Wahine have seven starters and 17 letterwinners back. They are bolstered by recruits and transfers, several of whom are expected to be in the starting lineup.
The strength of the team is the forward line, where last year's leading scorer, junior Arlene Devitt, is joined by freshmen Carmen Calpo and Natasha Kai. With three strikers, teams won't be able to double- and triple-team Devitt like last year. She also showed a consistent willingness to pass last week, making her even more difficult to defend.
"We can compare with the best on top," said Tenzing. "Arlene is a fierce competitor and she sees people who are in position to score goals. She has hungry kids ahead of her who want to score."
The wing midfielders -- sophomores Joelle Sugai on the left and Natalie Groenewoud on the right -- provide solid support the length of the field. Tenzing hasn't quite decided who will land the inside midfielder spots, but there is no lack of candidates, starting with sophomore Sasha Araya-Schraner, senior Wanette Miyashiro, junior Mia Moe (eligible next week) and redshirt sophomore Kalena Eaton (recuperating from a sprained knee).
"Natalie, for me, is the most improved player," said Tenzing. "She has a much better grasp of what we need and she has a wonderful service (putting the ball into the middle from the touch line)."
Krystalynn Ontai returns to anchor the defense from her left back position. The sophomore is a sure tackler, plays under control and with a lot of confidence.
Jessica Uecker, a sophomore transfer from South Carolina, is making rapid strides in understanding what Tenzing wants.
"Jessica asks a lot of questions and is an intelligent and aggressive learner," said Tenzing.
Senior Jennifer Churchill, sophomore Erin Chow and freshman Mahie Atay have waged a tremendous battle for the starting job the past two weeks. Goalkeeper coach Josh Fouts and Tenzing probably won't make a decision until tomorrow night.
Tenzing's expectations for this weekend are basic.
"I would like to see considerably better movement of the ball from 18-yard line to 18-yard line and see beauty in that movement," he said. "I want to see a mixture of short and long passes and to keep the three front runners constantly fed."
Notes: The captains this year are Miyashiro, Ontai and Sugai. ... Junior defender Liz Lusk suffered a partially torn ACL in her right knee during practice last week and is out indefinitely. ... Junior midfielder Mia Moe, who redshirted last year after transferring from Loyola Marymount, played in the alumni match; she must sit out this weekend's matches, according to NCAA rules.
What: Ohana Hotels & Resorts No Ka Oi Tournament Gameday
When: Today, Hawaii vs. Alabama-Birmingham, 7 p.m. Tomorrow, Wyoming vs. Alabama-Birmingham, 7 p.m. Sunday, Hawaii vs. Wyoming, 5 p.m.
Where: Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium
TV/radio: None.
Admission/parking: Free.
Series record: Hawaii leads Wyoming 1-0 and is playing UAB for the first time.
Last meeting: The Wahine defeated Wyoming 2-0 on Aug. 27, 2000.
UH Athletics
