Every year there is one weekend that is crucial to the longevity of the Hawaii soccer team's season and this weekend is it. UH pins hopes
on weekendBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThe top six schools out of the nine Western Athletic Conference women's teams qualify for the postseason tournament, which is hosted by Rice this year.
The Wahine (6-7-2, 2-2-0 WAC) want to be in Houston the second weekend of November, but they have not fared well on the road this year, winning just one of five matches. They do not want to leave a tournament berth hanging on the results of matches at San Jose State and a suddenly very hot Fresno State two weeks from now.
That is why tomorrow's match against Boise State (5-8-1, 1-4-0 WAC) and Sunday's meeting against Nevada (4-12-0, 1-4-0) are so important.
"If we win both, we will be doing ourselves a great big favor," said UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing.
The Broncos get balanced scoring from BreeAnn Milligan (6 goals, 3 assists), Abbe Roche (5 goals, 4 assists), Ann Howard (5 goals, 2 assists) and Brittany Zoellner (4 goals, 3 assists).
Defensively the Broncos play the offside game well, catching opponents 83 times while being nabbed just 28 times themselves. However, Boise State has been outscored 40-26 and opponents hold an edge in corner kicks 73-58.
Nevada is coming off its first WAC victory ever, a 4-3 overtime triumph over visiting San Jose State last Sunday.
Annie Baxter is Nevada's top scorer with six goals and two assists. Kaula Rowe, a junior from Kamehameha who led the Wolf Pack in scoring her first two seasons, is right behind with four goals.
Nevada's difficulty this year has been creating consistent offense. The Wolf Pack have been outshot 304-to-106 and this puts added pressure on the defense, which has surrendered 55 goals.
Natasha Kai and Arlene Devitt are UH's top goal producers with nine and eight, respectively.
The Wahine have to forget Boise State and Nevada are tied for last place in the WAC standings.
"I have to guard against us being down and underestimating these teams," said Tenzing.
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