UH soccer team aims to extend home win streak

With a three-match home winning streak on the line, the Hawaii women's soccer team will play Cornell from the Ivy League and San Francisco from the West Coast Conference this weekend.

The Rainbow Wahine (4-2-1) commence the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Shootout against Cornell tomorrow at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium.

OUTRIGGER HOTELS & RESORTS SHOOTOUT Schedule: Tomorrow, Hawaii vs. Cornell, 7 p.m.; Saturday, San Francisco vs. Cornell, 7 p.m.; Sunday, Hawaii vs. San Francisco, 5 p.m. Where: Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium. TV: Sunday's match live on KFVE (Channel 5).

After losing their opener, the Wahine shut out their next three opponents at Waipio and seemed to discover an offense with 3-0 victories over Kent State and Winthrop.

However, on its recent mainland trip, UH went more than 299 minutes before finally scoring its first goal. It came just in time, forcing a third consecutive overtime match in a 2-1 win over Northern Arizona.

The Wahine have been able to create scoring opportunities. They have outshot their opponents 99-64 and have displayed accuracy, as 55 of their attempts have been on goal, a .556 percentage. As a comparison, the 2005 Wahine team guided only 40 percent of its shots on goal.

Finishing the job by hitting the net hasn't been as easy.

UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing pointed out the strikers and midfielders who overlap on offensive bursts were nervous in front of the goal when shooting, but he felt they would overcome that as the season progressed.

"I said it would come and it is coming," Tenzing said. "They are playing very attractive soccer and for the first time I am excited about it."

Sophomore Kelli-Anne Chang is the top scorer with three goals, while freshman Ambree Ako and sophomore Taryn Fukuroku each have two goals.

The Big Red are 1-2-1, with the two losses coming in the last two matches to Canisius 2-0 and Niagara 2-1. They have outshot opponents 71-39 but have found it difficult to score, recording just six goals in four matches.

The Dons' two victories, over San Jose State 3-1 and Cal State Northridge 4-0, have come in the last three matches. USF (2-4) finished second in its own City by The Bay Classic last Sunday, losing to Long Beach State 1-0.