It’s been a while since the University of Hawaii Hilo women’s soccer team walked off the field in first place, but a youth-laden squad got to experience what that feels like Saturday afternoon. ADVERTISING It’s been a while since the
It’s been a while since the University of Hawaii Hilo women’s soccer team walked off the field in first place, but a youth-laden squad got to experience what that feels like Saturday afternoon.
Yes, it was the Pacific West Conference opener and they won’t be alone when all the first week matches are complete, but the 1-0 victory over Notre Dame de Namur was an early season bit of hope for a team in a youthful transition.
Eight players on UHH (2-0-2, 1-0-0), soccer director Lance Thompson’s roster are either freshmen, redshirt freshmen or players who have very little college experience.
“How about that?” Thompson said after the win on the UH-Hilo baseball outfield, “we will take first place any time of the season, but it is a great way to start the conference against a team that always plays us hard.”
The eventual game-winner came from senior Abcde Zoller, who worked herself loose down the left side, collected a crossing pass from freshman Tiani Teanio and slapped it into the left corner of the goal, past the outstretched reach of goalie Abigail Cebrero.
“I saw it coming in kind of at the last second,” Zoeller said, “but I just felt like I had to score. We needed it, we pout in a lot of work out there today.”
Kayle Clarke, another senior, stopped seven shots for the Vulcans, the same number as Cebrero stopped at the other end.
“It scares me a little sometimes out there,” Clarke said, “our style is to play back and be strong defensively, but we really did a pretty good job today. Being in first place? That’s a good feeling, let’s keep it that way.”
The Vulcans employ a defensive-oriented style with eight players normally behind the ball, sometimes nine, but in the second half Saturday, Thompson opted to move in another forward and press the attack with just seven back.
It was about five minutes after that strategic change that Zoller scored her goal.
“We wondered about having so many new players,” Zoller said, “but they are really passionate about soccer, really full of energy, they are definitely helping us.”
That part is a team thing, said Leighana Weaver , a freshman forward from Riverside, Calif., who had a couple scoring opportunities that pressured the Argo (0-5-0, 0-1-), defense.
“All the seniors contacted us before we ever got here,” she said, “we texted, planned things, went to beaches, went to dinner, by the time we got to campus we all felt like we knew everyone already.”
One conference game later, it all seems to be working.
