[ UH SOCCER ]
Soccer team
fighting for a bye
The Hawaii Rainbow Wahine host Texas-El Paso today, the second consecutive Western Athletic Conference team to arrive here undefeated in league play.
The biggest factor for the Wahine entering the match is to put Friday's emotional loss to Southern Methodist behind them and play with the same intensity they did for the final 87 minutes against the Mustangs.
"We have to get our players ready. That will be the coaches' challenge and I'm confident they will be ready," said Hawaii coach Pinsoom Tenzing.
Texas-El Paso at Hawaii
When: Today, 5 p.m.
Where: Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium
TV: KFVE (Ch. 5)
Radio: None
Admission/Parking: Free
Series record: The series is tied 2-2 with the home team winning all four matches
Last meeting: UTEP won 3-2 at home, Oct. 18, 2002.
The Wahine (7-4-2, 2-1) gave up two quick goals to SMU and spent the rest of the match trying to catch up. That saps a player physically and emotionally.
"We were a little asleep in the back to start the game, but I was very happy with the way we played. We didn't give up when we were down 4-1 and put ourselves in a position to win," said Tenzing.
"The key for us staying in the game was the pass Robyn deHay gave to Natasha Kai for our first goal. That set the tempo for the game. I think, no I'm confident we will meet SMU in the WAC championship game."
The Wahine know they cannot afford to lose a second home conference game, especially if they want to earn a first-round bye in the postseason tournament.
The Miners (7-3-0, 2-0) are led by Christine McCartney, a freshman midfielder from Ottawa, Ontario, who has scored 10 goals and has 21 points. She had a hat trick in the Miners' 6-1 rout of San Jose State a week ago.
Kate Stevens, a senior midfielder/striker, with seven goals and six assists, and Kia Sams, a sophomore striker with four goals and four assists, give coach Kevin Cross a potent offense.
The Miners average 3.5 goals per game, a figure inflated slightly by a 12-0 win over Prairie View A&M.
At the other end of the field, the Miners have blanked six opponents, including three on the road. Sophomore goalkeeper Kyla Clark has a 0.25 goals-against average.
UH goalkeeper Mahie Atay, who suffered a bruised left thigh in the first half against SMU, did not play in the second half and is probable for today's match.
