Hawai'i scores early, often to top Kent State in soccer, 3-0
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Goals led to gratification for the University of Hawai'i women's soccer team.
Scoring three goals on its first three shots on goal, Hawai'i defeated Kent State, 3-0, at the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Classic last night at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium in front of 745 fans.
"It was a particularly gratifying game," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "We got goals early, and very high up on my list of priorities is getting people playing time."
The 3-0 lead allowed Tenzing to play all 23 players who suited up for action. The Rainbow Wahine (2-1-0) play Winthrop (1-1-0) tomorrow at 5 p.m. Winthrop and Kent State (1-1-1) play tonight at 7.
"It brought the fun back into the season," said junior midfielder Jessica Domingo, the team's captain who notched the first goal.
"It's so stressful, trying to get that one goal," Domingo said. "When we scored we could relax a little bit — but not too much."
The Rainbow Wahine struck quickly on Domingo's goal in the 10th minute. Sophomore midfielder Alexis Choi started the play when she popped up a high cross from the left side, which bounced to freshman forward Ambree Ako. Ako passed it to Domingo, who controlled the ball from about 30 yards out, took a look, and launched the ball to the upper left corner of the goal.
"It was a nice pass from Ambree," Domingo said. "Scoring early affects the other team's confidence, and it was really good for our team's confidence."
Four minutes after Domingo's strike, sophomore forward Taryn Fukuroku scored on a header off a corner kick by sophomore midfielder Kelli-Anne Chang from the left side.
"It took a lot of pressure off," Fukuroku said. "Scoring my first goal was an obstacle."
Ako scored on a penalty kick in the 31st minute after Fukuroku was taken down in the penalty box.
Tenzing said the biggest difference between last night's game and UH's previous two — when it scored one goal — was that the Rainbow Wahine "converted the chances they created. They created them (in the previous game) but didn't finish."
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.
