Rainbow Wahine,
Bulldogs playing for bye
Tomorrow night's women's soccer meeting between Hawaii and Fresno State is crucial for both teams. The result will determine how many matches the Rainbow Wahine and Bulldogs must win in the Western Athletic Conference postseason tournament if they are to emerge champions.
Second place in the regular-season standings is at stake when the teams kick off at 7 p.m. at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium. A second-place finish means a bye in the three-day postseason tournament.
The Rainbow Wahine (11-4-1, 5-1) control their own destiny since they have just one league loss. A victory over the Bulldogs (6-6-2, 3-2) clinches second place for UH. That also would allow Hawaii to host the 2004 conference tournament.
Even a tie with FSU would not alter the above scenario as long as the Wahine defeat last-place San Jose State on Sunday.
"It is a very important game, but this season has been pretty pressure-packed. We let one match slip through our hands against Southern Methodist and we've been trying to win that third game on the road, which we accomplished the last time," UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing said.
Fresno State brings a three-match winning streak to town having knocked off Boise State, Nevada and San Jose State by a combined 15-3 score. The Bulldogs more than doubled the number of goals they scored in their first 11 matches.
The offense is led by sophomore strikers Kortney Lewis and Katri Nokso-Koivisto with eight and four goals, respectively. They receive timely support from senior midfielder Erin Sayegusa, a Kaiser graduate, who has scored three goals and added four assists in the last three matches.
FSU goalkeeper Jeannette Paina has allowed 22 goals in 14 matches for a 1.56 goals-allowed average.
Natasha Kai, whose 21 goals was the most for a Division I player in the NCAA statistics released Tuesday (games through Sunday included), paces the Hawaii's offense. Kai scored her 22nd goal of the season Monday against Idaho State.
Arlene Devitt, with seven goals and six assists, and Robyn deHay, with three goals and six assists, round out UH's top three point producers.
Mahie Atay has been outstanding in the goal for UH, compiling a 1.07 goals-allowed average.
Depth could be a plus for Hawaii in this match. Tenzing has enjoyed the luxury of substituting early and often in most matches this season.
"Everyone has seen a considerable amount of playing time and that is significant," said the UH coach.
