Bohlman gives UH
2-1 win
Gabrielle Bohlman scored 2 minutes, 56 seconds into the second half to break a 1-1 tie and the Hawaii soccer team held off Southern California yesterday in a nonconference match at Los Angeles.
"It was a superb win, a lovely win," UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "We played them tough both halves and tactically we were doing exactly what we wanted to do."
It was the second consecutive 2-1 road win for UH on the season's first trip, which concludes tomorrow at Loyola Marymount. The Lions (2-1) edged Rutgers 1-0 yesterday.
The Wahine (2-1-1) took a 1-0 lead at 13:26 when Natasha Kai, with an assist from Joelle Sugai, rammed a shot into the lower right corner from 17 yards out.
"Tasha is stepping back into her old form and playing well with the younger kids," Tenzing said. "She outran the defender and used all her striking moxie to put the ball in the goal."
The Trojans, who were picked to finish fifth in the Pac-10 Conference and have been to six consecutive NCAA Tournaments, tied the score just before the half when Jocelyn Hein headed in a cross from Ashley Casas at 44:35.
UH goalkeeper Mahie Atay, playing her fourth complete game in a row, kept USC scoreless the rest of the match and finished with seven saves. Atay's goals-against average is 0.95 through four matches.
She had a lot of support from her three backs, Liz Lusk on the right, Jessica Uecker in the middle and Krystalynn Ontai on the left.
"Jessica was something else," Tenzing said. "Krystalynn is playing hurt, but playing strong. She and Liz have been very good in the air."
USC outshot the Wahine 10-4 in the first half and 7-6 in the second.
Early in the second half, UH senior midfielder Kalena Eaton and freshman striker Koren Takeyama worked the ball up the right side of the field toward the USC goal. Takeyama passed to Bohlman, who was wide open in the middle and about 6 yards off the line. The freshman striker one-timed the ball into the net at 47:56.
"The younger kids are bringing everyone along kicking and screaming. Jessica Domingo (a freshman from Kamehameha) had another outstanding game," Tenzing said. "I have to say this. The older kids are not fussing about playing time. They just want to win."
