[ WAHINE SOCCER ]
Rainbow Wahine
win WAC
Arlene Devitt and Mia Moe make their final home appearance in a Hawaii Rainbow Wahine uniform tonight in the nonconference match with Brigham Young at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium.
If it being senior night wasn't special enough, the Rainbow Wahine are also co-champions of the WAC thanks to Boise State's 2-1 upset of visiting Southern Methodist yesterday. UH and SMU finish conference play with 7-1 records.
BYU at Hawaii
When: Today, 7 p.m.Where: Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium
TV: Live on KFVE, Ch. 5
Admission/Parking: Free.
Series: BYU leads 3-0
Last meeting: The Cougars won 7-0 in Provo, Utah, on Oct. 9, 1998.
"We are co-champions. That is a fact and no one can take that away from us," said UH head coach Pinsoom Tenzing.
Part of the reason is the play of Moe and Devitt. Devitt, from Kapaa High School, is a four-year starter up front. She was the career leader in seven offensive categories entering her senior season, although Natasha Kai has already broken or should surpass all those standards eventually.
Moe, a 1999 Punahou graduate, transferred back to UH after two years at Loyola Marymount, sat out a year after giving birth to twin daughters, then became a key element in the Wahine midfield scheme the past two seasons.
"I've thought about this being my last home game. It is probably the last year I'm going to play soccer, so, in a way I'm glad that it is over, but I'm sad that it is over," said Devitt, the only Wahine to earn All-Western Athletic Conference honors three consecutive years.
Devitt is keeping her career options open once she graduates with a degree in sociology in spring 2005.
"It has been turbulent at times, but she has really taken the program to the next level in terms of recruiting," said Tenzing. "When a quality player sees Arlene on the field when she is in full blossom they want to come and play with her. She has brought us back from the brink several times in matches."
Devitt said the biggest positive highlight in her four seasons was getting to the Western Athletic Conference championship her sophomore year.
"That year we all played as a team and we all got along. It was a perfect year," said Devitt. "We could win the WAC this year because of our individual athleticism. We need everyone to be a strong athlete and do what they do best."
"Overall, the whole college experience has been great. I've met new people, played soccer with local girls from the other islands and girls from the mainland. You learn from them."
Moe looks forward to her last home match.
"I'm excited even though it is my last home game," Moe said. "I'm also anxious to graduate, which I hope to do in May."
The sociology major is exploring various career opportunities. Doing social work or working with delinquent children are high on her list.
"Mia brought steadiness to our program," said Tenzing, who is being judicious in the amount of playing time Moe gets while she recovers from a sprained left knee.
"In the middle of the field Mia can dispose of two or three defenders and that leaves other people open. She mixes her tact with exclusive quality and makes easy passes."
Despite the injury, Moe views the 2003 season as something special.
"The possibility of winning the WAC (tournament) championship is exciting," said Moe. "This is our best record ever and that's always going to be an exciting memory. There has been a lot of history-making this year and it is something to be a part of that."
