The Hawaii soccer team ended a four-match losing streak with a 6-1 victory over Long Island University last night in the opening match of the Ohana Hotels & Resorts Soccer Shootout at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium. Wahine breeze
past Blackbirds 6-1By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comArlene Devitt and Natasha Kai each scored twice for the Wahine (2-4-1).
The Wahine applied early pressure after the Blackbirds took the opening kickoff down the right side and forced UH goalkeeper Mahie Atay to pull in a dangerous cross.
Kai took a through ball from Devitt but her straight-on shot from 8 yards away was saved by LIU goalkeeper Holly Nixon.
The three Wahine strikers combined on the first goal at 9:07 when Kai centered a looping pass to Carmen Calpo standing in the arc atop the penalty box. She pushed a pass to Devitt, who beat Nixon with a low, 16-yard shot from the left into the right corner of the goal.
It was Devitt's seventh game-winning goal, giving her sole possession of first place on the UH career list.
The Blackbirds created several opportunities but were unable to put a shot on the goal in the first half. The Wahine lost control of the midfield for a spell between 35 and 40 minutes, but finished the half with renewed energy as UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing sent in reserves.
One, Wendi Young, cracked a shot from just inside the 18-yard line on the left side that Nixon stopped with a sprawling, diving save to her left side, but the rebound rolled out into open space on the right. Midfielder Wanette Miyashiro closed fast on the loose ball and ripped a first-time, right-footed shot into the upper left corner from 40 yards out to give UH a 2-0 lead at 43:59.
Kai got a ball from Sasha Araya-Schraner 16 yards out on the right, and, falling down, left-footed the ball inside the left post at 54:55. Devitt scored her second goal at 60:45 off a perfect, defense-splitting pass by Tia Medeiros and Kai followed with her second at 62:55 off a through ball from Kelly McCloskey.
Tasha Hagan scored the sixth goal at 88:35. LIU broke the ice nine seconds later when Rosette Rough beat Atay from 12 yards.
UH Athletics
