[ UH SOCCER ]
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
UH's Natasha Kai scored the Rainbow Wahine's first goal just 10 seconds into a game against Morehead State at the Outrigger Classic at Waipio Peninsula Soccer stadium yesterday.
Kai quickly
puts away Eagles
Natasha Kai completed an eight-goal weekend by scoring five times last night as Hawaii defeated the Morehead State Eagles 8-0 at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park stadium in front of 468 fans.
The Rainbow Wahine (5-1-1) won the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Classic with the victory and ran their undefeated streak to six matches.
Hawaii took the opening kickoff and scored the quickest goal in school history as Kai dented the net 10 seconds after the opening whistle.
The first touch on the ball to start the game went to Arlene Devitt who held it for a moment until she could slip a pass to Robyn deHay who had eased past the opposing strikers.
In the clear and waiting patiently for Kai to speed by on the right, deHay calmly threaded a pass through the Eagles (1-4-1) defense that the sophomore striker planted in the back of the net with the second touch.
Kai then completed a hat trick, the fourth of her career, with goals at 16:25 and 22:40, the second consecutive match she has accomplished that feat.
On her second and third goals, Kai took a long, lead pass from right back Liz Lusk, motored pass the Eagle defenders and beat goalkeeper Stephanie Workman one on one.
Kai would add two more goals in the second half to set a single-game record and rewrite the record for points (11) in a match.
"I never scored more than three goals in a match at any level before," said Kai. "Tonight we just played to our level. This is how we look when we play our game. No one can stop us," said Kai.
Hawaii so controlled the first half, that Morehead State managed just one shot while the Rainbow Wahine took 17 with 10 being on goal.
Hawaii made use of superior team speed and effective passing, especially to switch the action from one side to the other, to keep the Eagles bottled up in their own half much of the match.
The fourth goal was scored by Tasha Hagan at 34:17. She was well positioned on the right side 8 yards off the goal line to receive Joelle Sugai's cross from the left and one-time the ball into the net.
Kai's second-half goals came at 71:02 out of a scramble inside the goalie box off a rebound from her sister Krisha's shot and with an unassisted effort following a 40-yard run at 81:22.
Kalena Eaton had an unassisted goal at 77:00, a 15-yard blast after picking up a ball deflected by a Morehead State defender, and Devitt drilled the ball home from 12 yards out off a cross from Kai in the right at 80:36.
"Our starters have been together for six matches and are playing well," said UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing. "Our second team can do just as well. It's just that they haven't had enough playing time. This is a terrific team with depth."
UH also set records for goals scored and points (23) in a match and tied the match record for assists (seven).
The next Rainbow Wahine match is Saturday night at 7 against Cornell of the Ivy League.
