[ UH SOCCER ]
Natasha Kai showed no ill effects of a three-week bout with mononucleosis in scoring three goals as Hawaii won its Western Athletic Conference opener 6-0 over Tulsa last night at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium. Kai hat trick gives UH
win in WAC opener
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comKai had not played since Sept. 23 and only received medical clearance to practice Tuesday. She now holds the UH freshman records for goals (9), points (20) and shots (60).
"Wasn't that fun?" UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "I thought Arlene (Devitt) and Natasha played a beautiful game and our defenders were in position to play well. Everything fell into place."
The back line of Noelle Takemoto, Jessica Uecker and Krystalynn Ontai limited the Golden Hurricane to 12 shots, but most were from long distance. Starting UH goalkeeper Mahie Atay had seven saves and Jennifer Churchill had one as they shared the team's second consecutive shutout.
The Wahine (4-5-2 overall, 1-0-0 WAC) wasted little time getting on the scoreboard after repulsing an opening thrust by the Golden Hurricane (4-6-2, 1-1-1), who advanced the ball up the right side on the kickoff.
The clearing pass went to midfield, where Erin Quattromani chipped a ball into the penalty box. Kai, facing away from the goal on the right side, controlled the ball and turned and lobbed a shot into the left side of the net 1 minute and 14 seconds into the match.
Atay was severely tested at 14:28 when Danielle Fateux took a long pass just left of center and fired from 16 yards, but was denied by Atay's diving deflection.
Hawaii took advantage of a poor clear by the Tulsa defense. The ball rolled right to Kai, who drilled a left-footed shot into the upper left corner of the net from 20 yards out to give UH a 2-0 lead at 17:37.
Devitt made the score 3-0 at 30:29 with another opportunistic goal.
Pouncing on a loose ball, UH's all-time leading scorer kicked a low shot from 26 yards away that glanced off the left post into the net.
Kai tied Veronica Flores for the school record for most goals in a match at 54:13 with a head shot just inside the left post. The play started when Carmen Calpo battled for the ball in the right corner. She pushed a short back pass to Natalie Groenewoud, who served an accurate ball to Kai.
Quattromani picked up her third assist of the match at 67:27 when she snuck a ball through the Tulsa defense to Mia Moe, who scored from close range.
Quattromani's three assists tied the school single-game record set by Tiffany Makue last year.
"The quality of Erin's balls, the waiting, the distance and their placement, is something else," Tenzing said.
Devitt, brought down in the box by Tulsa defender Carrie Schnarre, converted the penalty kick at 71:55 for the final goal.
Hawaii plays Rice tomorrow at 5 p.m.
UH Athletics
