Wahine open WAC,
looking for revenge
The Hawaii soccer team begins Western Athletic Conference competition tomorrow at the same site the 2002 season ended in bitter disappointment.
The Rainbow Wahine play Rice tomorrow night in Houston. The Owls ousted UH from last year's WAC tourney with a 2-0 first-round upset.
The Wahine (5-2-1) will face a man-to-man defense, a tactic they have not encountered often but one that has given them problems. Last Saturday, Cornell's defense provided a taste of what it's like for the UH strikers to have defenders on their backs most of the match in a 2-0 win by the Big Red.
"The Rice defense is time-tried for them and most people are not used to it," Hawaii coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "Most teams use a zone defense, so our strikers will see a new facet of the game.
"My job is to prepare our strikers for this and if I'm successful, then we will be successful."
Rice (2-4-1) is undefeated at home (2-0-1). The only time UH beat the Owls on the mainland was in the semifinal round of the 2001 WAC tournament in Houston.
After Saturday's lethargic loss to Cornell, Tenzing said the only good thing that might come out of that match is the hope that his players realize a victory is not a given.
He also is concerned with the reaction some of his players had to the jeering that came from the Rice fans last year in Houston.
"We are constantly talking about this," Tenzing said. "My message to the players is if someone disrespects you that is a flaw in their character, not yours. But, if you respond, then that is a flaw in your character and you disrespect yourself. We don't have a complete handle on this, but we're still working on it."
The Wahine face Tulsa on Sunday and expect to see a defense similar to that of Rice.
"Both Rice and Tulsa are disciplined and hungry," Tenzing said. "We need to recognize where they play their sweeper."
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The teams
Here is a capsule look at the WAC teams in the order they play Hawaii with the overall record in parentheses:
Rice (2-4-1)
Coach: Chris Huston, fifth year, 37-46-5
2002 WAC record: 3-5-0
Players to watch: Sara Yoder, junior midfielder; Lauren Shockley, junior goalkeeper; Caitlin Currie, junior defender.
Outlook: The Owls picked up their first victories last weekend with a 1-0 upset of Alabama and a 5-1 win over Northwestern State. Generating a consistent offense has been the Owls' problem. They have scored seven goals in seven matches, with a team-record five coming in their last match. The four losses were by the same 1-0 score. However, the defense has been very stingy, allowing just six goals this season. UH is 2-2 all time vs. Rice.
Tulsa (3-4-1)
Coach: Damon Gore, fifth season, 40-37-8
2002 WAC record: 4-2-2
Players to watch: Danielle Fauteux, sophomore striker; Kelly Wilson, sophomore goalkeeper; Jamie German, sophomore midfielder
Outlook: With nine starters back, Gore wanted to build on last year's winning conference record, but the offense has struggled after a good start. Fauteux, the Golden Hurricane's leading scorer as a freshman has five of Tulsa's 12 goals this year. Tulsa has not won or scored more than one goal in each of the last five matches, all on the road. Twelve of the 13 goals the Golden Hurricane have allowed came in those five matches. They play at Southwest Missouri State two days before hosting Hawaii in their first home match since Sept. 5. UH leads the series 3-1.
Southern Methodist (7-2-0)
Coach: John Cossaboon, seventh year, 80-45-6
2002 WAC record: 6-1-1
Players to watch: Kim Harvey, senior striker; Jill Heinemann, junior midfielder; Lauren Mussallem, senior striker; Amanda Clark, junior goalkeeper.
Outlook: Whether its SMU's men's or women's team, success is a tradition on the Dallas campus and a change in the women's head coach hasn't changed a thing for the Lady Mustangs. Cossaboon was successful at San Diego guiding the Toreros to four consecutive NCAA appearances. With his connections in Texas (director of coaching for the North Texas State Soccer Association, 1982-90), there is no doubt he will maintain the Lady Mustangs' role as being the team to beat in the WAC. Freshman Adria Campbell (Punahou) has stepped into Division I competition with ease scoring twice with four assists. UH is 0-4-1 against SMU.
Texas-El Paso (5-3-0)
Coach: Kevin Cross, third year, 24-13-2
2002 WAC record: 6-2
Players to watch: Kate Stevens, senior midfielder; Amber Mack, junior defender; Christine McCartney, freshman midfielder.
Outlook: The Miners posted a school-best 16-3 record in 2002, advancing to the WAC title match. Their top three scorers representing 53 goals are gone, but Cross had an excellent recruiting class. Three of his top five scorers this year are freshmen. The UTEP preseason schedule has not been the most challenging, so it will be interesting to see if the momentum carries over to league play. The series is tied 2-2.
Nevada (2-5-0)
Coach: Dang Pibulvech, 20th year, 196-146-23
2002 WAC record: 1-6-1
Players to watch: Kaula Rowe, senior striker; Leisha Makinano, senior defender; Anne Baxter, junior forward; Natalie Allen, senior midfielder.
Outlook: The Wolf Pack won two of their first three matches, then scored just one goal in the next four. Not putting the ball in the net has been the Wolf Pack's history since Pibulvech started the program four years ago. That translates into one victory in 23 league matches. Nevada has two more nonconference matches before opening WAC play next weekend. UH is 3-0 vs. Nevada.
Boise State (2-7-0)
Coach: Steve Lucas, fourth year (21-36-4)
2002 WAC record: 1-7-0
Players to watch: BreeAnn Milligan, junior striker; Abbe Roche, senior midfielder; Brittany Zoellner, senior midfielder.
Outlook: The Broncos have their top three scorers back and look to an improved defense to cut down on the 50 goals opponents poured into their nets last year. The back line only has one returnee and Boise State will go with freshman Kim Parker in the goal. So far, opponents have outscored the Broncos 25-8 with two home matches remaining before they begin league action. BSU is playing its home matches at a new on-campus facility this year. UH leads the series 2-1-1.
Fresno State (3-4-2)
Coach: Stacy Welp, third year (19-27-2)
2002 WAC record: 5-3
Players to watch: Kortney Lewis, sophomore striker; Erin Sayegusa, senior striker; Katri Nokso-Koivisto, sophomore striker; Kristyn Kellogg, senior defender.
Outlook: The Bulldogs qualified for the WAC postseason tournament for the 17th consecutive season a year ago. Welp has eight starters and 17 letterwinners back to keep that tradition going. FSU has played a demanding preseason schedule and beat No. 25 Charlotte, but the four defeats were to teams ranked 14th or better nationally. The Bulldogs' second league match is at SMU, which could determine whether they are title contenders. The all-time series against UH is tied 3-3-1.
San Jose State (1-7-0)
Coach: Chris Gilmore, first year
2002 WAC record: 1-5-2
Player to watch: Alaina Chandler, senior striker.
Outlook: The Spartans lost four of their five top goal scorers from a squad that averaged slightly more than one goal a match in 2002. Interim head coach Gilmore faces a challenging rebuilding job and brought in 10 new players to help. So far, the team has not jelled. SJS leads the series 4-3-1.
