[ UH SOCCER ]
Rainbow Wahine
fastest to 10 wins
BOISE, Idaho >> The Hawaii women's soccer team claimed its 10th victory in the 15th match of the season yesterday, the fastest the Rainbow Wahine have reached that plateau in their 10-year history.
The 1999 team needed 17 matches to post its 10th win.
Hawaii did not score until 86:49 and had to overcome a packed Boise State Broncos defense to earn the Western Athletic Conference win 1-0.
BSU (5-9-1, 1-2) head coach Steve Lucas decided to smother UH's potent offense by employing five defenders and two -- yes two -- sweepers. The strategy almost worked until Joelle Sugai crossed a ball into the crowded penalty box as the end of regulation time approached.
Natasha Kai found the ball and guided it into the net from 5 yards out for her fifth match-winning goal of the season. That ties the single-season record she set a year ago.
"I have to give credit to Boise State. We embarrassed them in Honolulu last year and they were not going to let that happen on their home field. They were a very determined side ," said Hawaii coach Pinsoom Tenzing.
"In the second half we found a lot of room in the middle of the field and started connecting with our passes."
The Wahine outshot the Broncos 13-6 in the second half after getting off just two shots in the first 45 minutes.
It also was the fifth consecutive match the sophomore striker from Kahuku has scored a goal, breaking the record she established in 2002. Kai's goal, her 21st of the season and 37th in her career, puts her one ahead of teammate Arlene Devitt on the all-time list.
With the Broncos committing seven players plus their goalkeeper to defense, it was difficult to generate a sustained offense. UH goalie Mahie Atay had no saves in the first half and four in the second half.
The Rainbow Wahine are 6-1-1 on the road this year. The six wins equals the most road victories in a season recorded by the 1999 and 2001 teams.
The victory keeps the Wahine (10-4-1, 5-1) firmly in control of second place in the conference standings. First-place Southern Methodist is undefeated and every other team has at least two defeats. The Wahine need to beat or tie Fresno State and San Jose State this weekend to wrap up a first-round bye in the conference postseason tournament.
Hawaii plays at Idaho State (4-6-1) today. The Bengals have lost five consecutive matches, all by 2-0 scores, but three of those defeats were to ranked opponents, No. 21 Brigham Young, No. 21 Utah and No. 9 Washington.
The Wahine won the only previous match with the Bengals 3-1 in 1998.
Notes: Atay's shutout yesterday was her fourth of the season. ... Jennifer Loo, a freshman defender from Mililani, has started all matches for Idaho State. She has scored one goal and assisted on three others. ... Look for Kai or Southern Methodist's Kim Harvey to win WAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Harvey had a hat trick yesterday, scoring all three goals in SMU's 3-2 win at Tulsa.
