BOULDER, Colo. — This is not the way the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine wanted to end their unprecedented season.

Weary from an unexpectedly long road trip and nervous on a national stage they had never before reached, the Rainbow Wahine soccer team suffered a 2-0 loss against host Colorado yesterday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

It was only the third time in 22 games that Hawai'i (15-5-2) was held scoreless.

"We've been looking forward to this for a long, long time and I'm disappointed we didn't bring our A-game today," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "I'll bring this team back again, because they're young.

"We are really grateful to be here. We spent about 13 years in the wilderness and this is our first trip (to the NCAA tournament). It's sad that we didn't bring our best game today, but we have a young team and we hope to be back next year."

The Rainbow Wahine set team records this season for wins and goals (59), but the team ran out of gas in Boulder's 5,400-plus foot elevation following a two-week stretch of whirlwind travel.

Hawai'i left campus on Nov. 6 for the Western Athletic Conference playoffs in Boise, and after claiming the league's tournament title, the Rainbow Wahine remained in Idaho before traveling to Colorado on Tuesday.

It all led to a sluggish start against the veteran Buffaloes, who were making their fifth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.

Hawai'i had outscored its opponents 19-0 in a five-game winning streak it brought into the match, but a goal by Colorado's Gianna DeSaverio in the 11th minute gave the Buffaloes a lead they never relinquished and ended the Rainbow Wahine's shutout streak at 470 minutes.

"We've had to fight through a lot of adversity throughout our season. We just couldn't pull it out today," said senior midfielder Jessica Domingo, who ended her career in a 10th-place tie on Hawai'i's all-time scoring list with 27 points.

"This is all new to us. Just being at this level makes you nervous. It definitely was a mistake on our part. We shouldn't have come out nervous. I don't know why we did. In the future, if we get here again — which hopefully we will — we'll be better prepared."

UH enjoyed a wonderful opportunity for a tying goal with a little more than 15 minutes remaining in the first half.

Junior forward Taryn Fukuroku saw her point-blank chance deflected by Buffaloes goalkeeper Kara Linder, but Fukuroku was able to track down the rebound and set up an open look in the middle of the box.

Fukuroku's following attempt, though, ricocheted off the right post, ending the Rainbow Wahine's best scoring chance.

"I couldn't believe it. It hit the post and bounced right back out," Fukuroku said. "I think it would've changed the whole game if that had gone in. It would have put more life back in our team if we had tied it up at the end of the first half."

Colorado extended its lead on a goal by Mel Hicks late in the 61st minute, essentially ending the comeback bid of a Rainbow Wahine team that generated only two shots on goal the entire game.

HAWAI'I 0 0 — 0

COLORADO 1 1 — 2

Goals—DeSaverio 5, CU (DeJesus 3), 10:50; Hicks 1 (DeJesus 4), 60:56. Shots on goal—UH, 2-0—2; CU, 2-4—6. Saves—UH (Lu 1, McClure 3); CU (Linder 2). Corner kicks—UH, 2-0—2; CU, 2-0—2. A—841.