GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
UH's high-scoring striker Arlene Devitt, left, sat out the last two games of the regular season, but she's back for the tourney.
Rainbow Wahine in Hawaii begins its quest for the elusive Western Athletic Conference soccer title tomorrow night in Houston with a first-round match against host and No. 6 seed Rice.
Houston for title shot
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThis is the third appearance in the tournament in the last four years for the Rainbow Wahine. They reached the championship match a year ago before losing to Southern Methodist. In 1999, the Lady Mustangs ousted the Wahine in the first round in triple overtime.
The Wahine, seeded No. 3, edged the Owls 1-0 in their regular-season match at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park, but UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing was not happy with his team's performance in the victory.
"We squandered a lot of chances to score and I didn't like the physical aspects of the game," said Tenzing.
"I thought we underestimated Rice and we can't underestimate them tomorrow. If we do, we die. We're playing Rice at their home and it's the WAC tournament. That makes it a bigger event."
The Owls (3-12-2) won their final two matches to qualify for the tournament. They managed just 20 goals in 17 matches while surrendering 41. The Wahine (10-7-2) have scored an all-time-high 49 goals and have given up 26, but just two in the current five-match winning streak.
For all the deserved accolades the Hawaii offense has received this season, much of what the offense accomplishes starts with the defense, led by freshman goalkeeper Mahie Atay and three solid backs in Jessica Uecker, Krystalynn Ontai and Noelle Takemoto.
"Mahie is the main person back there and Jessica does a tremendous job organizing the defense," said Tenzing. "We play three in the back, but they get a lot of help from (outside midfielders) Natalie Groenewoud and Joelle Sugai.
"When someone gets through, they face Mahie. What she does is just appear from nowhere and collect the ball. She is becoming assertive and people listen to her. The stuff I really like is she is not sloppy doing fundamental things. That's the mark of a good goalkeeper."
The Wahine have seen everyone this year. They should not be surprised by any team's style or tactics or an individual's abilities. They know the players who are dangerous, who can change the status of a match quickly.
Hawaii, at times, has been able to get on the scoreboard early and this is important in a setting where it takes three wins in three days to claim the WAC title. Every chance Tenzing has to make use of subs is important.
"Generally, teams get down after giving up a couple of goals. It makes a big difference," said Tenzing.
Rosters increase from 18 during regular-season action to 22 players for the tournament. Joining the Wahine in Houston are strikers Arlene Devitt and Wendi Young, midfielder Taryn Murata and goalkeeper Erin Chow.
No. 4 seed Fresno State plays No. 5 Tulsa in the opener. The winner meets top seed SMU on Friday. The Hawaii-Rice winner faces No. 2 UTEP in the other semifinal.
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