Who knows what kind of result UH-Hilo’s women’s soccer team will find if it can ever string together the 90 minutes of consistent play that coach Gene Okamura seeks.
When the Vulcans have lapses, they appear destined for a deadlock.
UHH played to its third draw Saturday in as many matches during the shortened season, tying Chaminade 1-1 at Saint Louis in Honolulu.
Asked in a phone interview if the effort was consistent, Okamura said, “Not quite.”
He said his squad came out flat, allowing Randi Fontes’ goal – her third of the season against UHH this season. Daeleen Tokunaga, a transfer from UH-Manoa, scored her first as Vul, about 20 minutes later, after collecting a through ball from Megan Donovan.
And these draws may be becoming contagious. Earlier, the UHH men played to a 1-1 tie, evening its mark at 1-1-1.
The recent wet weather hasn’t just hampered the practice conditions for UHH baseball and softball, Okamura said. The match, which was played on field turf, was a rare instance of the Vuls being able to kick the ball around outside of late.
“A lot of small-sided stuff in practice,” he said.
The Silverswords (1-0-3) put eight shots on frame, twice as many as UHH, though Okamura said the Vuls’ rate of quality chances picked up in the second half.
Fontes’ fifth goal of the season came when she lobbed a ball over charging goalkeeper Viviana Poli, who was credited with seven saves. Fontes a senior and Pearl City (Oahu) alum, has scored in all four of Chaminade’s matches. She entered with 12 career goals, second-best in program history.
“Not a lack of effort on our part, but we’re still looking to put all the pieces together,” Okamura said.
Their last chance this season comes Sunday against Hawaii Pacific (0-1-2). The match follows the 11 a.m. men’s match.
On Saturday, the UHH men played with the lead for most of the day. Former Waiakea standout John Grover scored his second goal of the season, corralling a corner kick from fellow freshman Tom Vorkastner just a minute and a half into the match.
The Vulcans, who beat the Silverswords (0-3-1) 4-1 last month, put only three shots on goal the rest of the match.
Christian Souza made five saves for UHH, but according to a school release after making a save in the 73rd minute “he tried to clear the ball but accidentally knocked it into the upper top shelf of the net” for an own goal.
Vorkastner and Kalei Tolentino-Perry each took three shots.
