The Hawaii soccer team is in Texas this weekend for important Western Athletic Conference matches against Texas-El Paso tomorrow and defending league champion Southern Methodist on Sunday. Wahine to be
tested in TexasBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThe Rainbow Wahine also have a nonconference match against former WAC rival Texas Christian on Monday.
The Miners and Lady Mustangs both stumbled Sunday on the road in Northern California. UTEP had its unbeaten season ended by Fresno State 2-0 and SMU was held to a 2-2 tie by San Jose State when the Spartans packed the defense.
Hawaii coach Pinsoom Tenzing was elated with those results because they give the Wahine the opportunity to take charge of their own destiny this weekend.
However, the Wahine (5-5-2, 2-0-0 WAC) have to prove to themselves they can win on the road.
The Miners (12-1-0, 3-1-0) have scored 69 goals and produced 64 assists, with Holly Cohen and Miranda Cuthberson each recording two hat tricks.
"UTEP has a very well-organized offense. Holly and Miranda play well together," said Tenzing. "No. 5 (Kelly Parker) operates well down the middle. I don't think the defense is that strong."
The Wahine have blanked their last three opponents, led by goalkeeper Mahie Atay's conference leading 1.15 overall goals against average. The three backs in front of her, Noelle Takemoto on the right, Jessica Uecker in the middle and Krystalynn Ontai on the left, play as a cohesive unit and generally limit opponents to shots from outside the 18-yard line.
The challenge will be for the UH midfielders to keep feeding the speedy strikers to keep pressure on the UTEP defenders.
Arlene Devitt has been cleared to play after colliding with a Rice player late in the first half Sunday that left the Wahine striker with a banged up right knee and a noticeable limp the second half.
"I don't know how effective Arlene will be, but she can be an explosive player, so I have to think twice about taking her out," said Tenzing.
Hawaii has not defeated SMU (7-4-3, 3-0-1) in four attempts despite playing perhaps their best match of the regular season against the Lady Mustangs the past three years.
"We know each other real well. Their strength is offense and so is ours," said Tenzing. "Their defense is their weakness. If push comes to shove, their midfield might be better, so now it comes down to comparing goalkeepers. It should be quite a match."
Kim Harvey spearheads the SMU offense with 10 goals and four assists.
UH Athletics
