Domingo knocks UH
into tournament
The Hawaii soccer team had to beat San Jose State last night to qualify for next month's Western Athletic Conference postseason tournament.
It took the Wahine 102 minutes to accomplish that goal at the San Jose Soccer Stadium before 308 fans.
The winning shot came off the right foot of freshman midfielder Jessica Domingo at 102:29 of the second overtime period to give UH the 1-0 win.
The sequence began when Robyn deHay worked the ball up the right side and sent a high cross into the middle, attempting to set up a Natasha Kai head shot.
The ball was too high, but Kai chased it down and pushed the ball back to Joelle Sugai, who crossed it back into the middle. Domingo battled a San Jose State defender for possession, won the ball, created a bit of separation and delivered a shot that trickled past SJSU goalkeeper Adrienne Herbst and across the goal line from 15 yards out.
It was Domingo's first goal of the season.
The Wahine (12-5-2, 5-3) are undefeated in their last 13 overtime matches, winning seven and tying six. It also is their sixth match involving extra time this year, a single-season record.
The Wahine must wait until the results of this coming weekend's matches to learn what seed they will be in the Nov. 4-6 tournament at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium.
Hawaii coach Pinsoom Tenzing made a tactical lineup change for the match going with two strikers (instead of three) and using the usual four midfielders, but adding another defender to the back line.
"I was concerned about not having some of our starters available (injuries) and conceding too many goals. When you play three at the back you have to have all 11 players clicking and we haven't been able to do that," said Tenzing.
"I had to think more defensive today and it worked out today. I want to congratulate our players for making it work the first time they have played this formation (4-4-2)."
He moved senior center defender Jessica Uecker to one of the center midfield positions. The back line starters were seniors Liz Lusk and Krystalynn Ontai, junior Seline Williams, who has been playing center midfield, and freshman Lehua Wood.
"The two Jessicas, Domingo and Uecker, worked extremely well for being together for the first time," said Tenzing. "The players have accepted that Domingo is taking charge in the middle. She still needs to improve on delivering the ball to the strikers, but that will come with time.
The Spartans (5-10-1, 2-3-1) managed just one shot in overtime after holding a 14-12 edge in regulation.
Erin Chow made four saves for her fifth shutout of the year.
UH plays a nonconference match against the San Francisco Dons tomorrow before returning home Wednesday.
