SAN JOSE, Calif. >> The Hawaii Rainbow Wahine soccer team made the most of its six shots on goal yesterday and defeated San Jose State 4-0 in a Western Athletic Conference match. Wahine shut out
Spartans for road win
From staff and wire reports
The Wahine were playing for a chance to have a first-round bye in the WAC tournament next week, but Southern Methodist ended that dream by defeating visiting Texas-El Paso 3-1 last night. The Lady Mustangs clinched their second consecutive regular-season title with the victory.
The Spartans (3-13-3, 1-5-2 WAC) also had a lot at stake -- a berth in the WAC tournament -- and came out playing straight up instead of packing the defense as they had done in recent matches.
The Wahine (9-7-2, 5-2-0) managed only three shots in the opening half, but led 1-0 at intermission on a goal at 12:52.
"It was a marvelous goal," said UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing. "Natasha Kai shook the ball loose from a defender just inside the midfield line, carried it down to about 9 yards out and passed the ball to Carmen Calpo, who smashed it in the net.
"We lacked the energy we have at home in the first half. We seemed a step slow. San Jose gave us a run for our money in the first half. They were beating us to the ball, but our defense played exceedingly well. After the halftime chitchat our players came out firing."
Mia Moe scored a quick goal after the break at 50:14 right from the penalty spot. Kai picked up her second assist after stealing the ball and making a run to the left side that attracted all the SJSU defenders, leaving Moe unmarked.
"It was another great pass by Natasha, and Mia just swatted the ball into the corner. The goalkeeper had no chance," said Tenzing.
Kai, Hawaii's leading scorer, then recorded her 15th goal of the season when she rammed Natalie Groenewoud's rebound into an empty net at 61:52. It was Kai's ninth conference goal, tying her for the WAC single-season record set by SMU's Kim Harvey last year.
Wanette Miyashiro concluded the scoring at 75:34 when she took a pass from Moe, outfoxed SJSU goalkeeper Erin Lavey and tapped the ball across the unguarded goal line.
The shutout was UH's fifth of the season and the fourth, most ever, in conference play. Mahie Atay and Jennifer Churchill shared the shutout, with Atay playing the first 73 minutes.
"We played much better in the second half. We pushed the ball into the zones well, passed much better and had more energy," said Tenzing. "I'm hoping that being up here for a week before the WAC tournament will help us keep our energy level up."
Hawaii plays at Fresno State tomorrow. Both teams are 5-2-0 in league play. The Bulldogs can finish second with a victory and get a first-round bye since they beat UTEP. A UH win would pit the Wahine against the No. 6 seed in the first round of the WAC tournament next Thursday.
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