Wahine soccer heads to Arizona

The Hawaii Rainbow Wahine take their new-style offense and stingy defense to Arizona for three matches this week.

The Wahine (3-1) play in the Four Points Sheraton Cats Classic tomorrow against Pacific and Sunday against the host Arizona Wildcats.

They finish the first mainland trip of 2006 with a nonconference match at Northern Arizona on Tuesday.

Tomorrow's Classic opener could boil down to which defense cracks. UH has allowed one goal in four matches, the Pacific Tigers (4-0) none.

Arizona (2-2) beat Western Athletic Conference member Utah State 3-0 last weekend before falling to Utah 2-1 in the championship match of the Utah Fall Classic.

Pacific and Arizona both received votes in this week's Soccer Buzz West Region Rankings.

Northern Arizona (2-1) plays in the Indiana U. tournament this weekend before returning to Flagstaff to face UH.

The Wahine have created numerous scoring opportunities with an offense that prefers to keep the ball on the ground and gives midfielders and defenders a chance to overlap on the attack.

"We're also using the flanks more this year," said UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing. "The mobility of the top two (Taryn Fukuroku and Ambree Ako) and their willingness to check back means we can slip more midfielders up front."

The three goals scored against Winthrop last Sunday came from midfielders Kelli-Anne Chang and Kristen Oshiro.

"Last year we had a very good individual player. The difference is we are such a good team," said junior center midfielder Jessica Domingo. "You can see it by the attacks we have. We have threats from everywhere."

Tenzing is not too concerned about his team playing on fields that possibly are not up to the standard of the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium, where a pass on the ground usually runs true.

"I don't think it will be difficult for our club to adjust. It is all in the attitude of our players and the attitude has been excellent," Tenzing said.

Domingo admits the team is spoiled playing on the field at Waipio and it can be hard on the road, but she isn't worried.

"I think we handle adversity really well. The strength of our team is how we rely on each other. We help each other become better," Domingo said.

The one factor that does cause Tenzing some concern is the youthfulness of the Wahine.

"This will be the first significant trip for some of them, but this is a team of character. I'm sure the older players will help them out," Tenzing said.

UH is playing Arizona for the first time. The Wahine are 2-2-1 against Pacific and won their only match with NAU.

Note: Junior defender Shawn Higa had arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to repair a torn medial collateral ligament in her right knee. She was expected to miss six weeks, but received good news from her surgeon after the procedure.

"My doctor told me the tear wasn't as bad as expected and I might be able to play in two to three weeks," said Higa. "I was super happy when he told me that. I started rehab yesterday."