UH’s promising
season ends in dismay

The scene last Thursday night was of mud-spattered Hawaii Rainbow Wahine soccer players standing around consoling each other, staring into the rainy night, sitting on the ground slowly removing gear or hiding their faces in their hands on the bench.

It was a picture full of sadness and dismay, of trying to understand what had just happened. Their season ended abruptly in a shootout after Tulsa tied the match with an improbable goal 37 seconds before the final whistle.

It was a stark contrast to the thoughts and positive outlook the players held in August. They were convinced this was the year the Wahine would win the Western Athletic Conference championship.

Instead, they were booted out of the conference postseason tournament in their first match for the third consecutive year, a bitter ending for the 11 seniors.

The 2004 season had two distinct halves. They Wahine were 3-4-1 in the last eight matches after starting 9-2-2 with home wins over Rice and Tulsa on the first week of WAC play.

That was the week they essentially lost starting goalkeeper Mahie Atay for the year. Atay did play one half against UTEP on an ensuing road trip, but suffered her third concussion. On the next homestand, freshman striker Gabrielle Bohlman, tied for third in scoring, was lost for the season with a bruised liver.

Senior outside right midfielder Natalie Groenewoud only played in the first two matches before an ankle injury forced her to redshirt. Junior striker Natasha Kai, the nation's top scorer a year ago, was hampered all year with ankle, shin, quadriceps and groin injuries. She was never 100 percent.

Krisha Kai, another striker who saw considerable playing time, was lost for the final six matches with a sprained knee.

"It was a season of injuries that sort of determined the path we were going to take and where we ended up. The early and late injuries all conspired to knock us down," UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "I have the overwhelming feeling we could have done much better.

"Obviously, we depended on Natasha a lot, but the various injuries slowed her down in a big way. We had trouble supplying her the ball in open space and when we did, she wasn't ready for it because of the injuries."

Three freshmen, Bohlman, striker Koren Takeyama and center midfielder Jessica Domingo, earned starting jobs and made significant contributions, a good sign for the future.

Yet, at times, the lack of familiarity with the moves of the veterans showed with passes headed one way while a teammate broke in another direction. When the connection was made, positive things happened.

"Obviously, we need a lot of work up top with the young kids. We need to play more attractive soccer. You want to see collective teamwork," said Tenzing.

"The younger kids played excellent team soccer. They made the game easy for the entire unit with the way they played defense, but we weren't able to provide our stars space on a regular basis."

Tenzing says the future is bright with 14 returning players who could start.

The back line is gone, but Tenzing thinks freshmen Lehua Wood and Shawn Higa are ready to claim two of the three defender spots.

Left outside midfielder Joelle Sugai, who started every match (81) during her four years, has to be replaced. It will be a challenge to find a player with her unlimited energy and non-stop approach to the game.

Tenzing has a verbal commitment from a goalie who will be an incoming freshman. Atay and Kimi Tiampo, who can play in the field as well as defend the nets, will be seniors in 2005.

The program receives anywhere from five-to-10 e-mails a day from high school players interested in becoming a Wahine. Keeping the depth the team enjoyed starting this season can be accomplished with the next recruiting class.

However, avoiding injuries is another story.