The waiting is over.
The waiting is over.
UH-Hilo’s men’s soccer team broke out for 3-0 victory against Dominican on Saturday at Paiea Stadium in Keaau, earning its first win of the season and ending the nation’s longest winless streak.
During a 12-minute stretch of the first half, the Vulcans (1-13, 1-10 PacWest) took on another form, with two goals by Jesus Ortega sandwiched around Bryan Reynoso’s fourth goal of the season.
“I am not sure that a win has ever felt this good,” soccer director Gene Okamura said in a school release. “We have been fighting hard and the guys have never given up. The reward took a while to get here but it is well deserved for our players.”
UH-Hilo had three other 1-0 leads this season – Ortega scored his first in the 24th minute off a Jonathan Garcia assist – and goalkeeper Cassidy Dixon helped this one stand up by robbing the Penguins’ Bryan Juarez with a stellar save.
“We’ve been so close so many times this year,” Okamura said. “We are a better team than our record. Today, it was nice to put it all together on offense and defense and get the win.”
Ortega assisted on Reynoso’s goal before scoring after a give-and-go with Bradley Doyle.
The Penguins fell to 4-9-2, 1-8-2.
In the women’s match, UH-Hilo yielded two second-half goals for its fifth loss in a row.
The Vulcans (6-8-1, 3-7-1) held an 8-6 shots advantage on Dominican (6-8-2, 4-6-1).
Vuls rise
Ryan Roodzant fired a 6-under 66 and Jared Kinoshita shot a 69 as UH-Hilo made a move at its Dennis Rose Intercollegiate at Waikoloa Beach Course, falling one shot shy of first place Wilmington for the team title.
The Vulcans’ 11-under 277 was the best round of the day. Kamehameha graduate Preston Lee-Ching shot 70, Taylor Patrick carded a 72 and Evan Merrier went 73.
“It was the first time this fall that I felt like we are close to playing to our potential,” UHH coach Earl Tamiya said in a release. “This team has the potential to be pretty good and we will continue working toward that.”
Kinoshita finshed fourth at 3-over, and Roodzant tied for fifth another shot back.