 "Photo: Brian Tseng")
The University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine soccer team (5-9-1) will host Western Athletic Conference matches against the Nevada Wolf Pack (6-11-0) this Friday, Oct. 23, at 5 p.m. and the Utah State Aggies (8-7-2) at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25.
The games will be the last two home matches this season at the Waipi‘o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
The ’Bows are coming off of a two-game road trip, going 1-1 after beating Louisiana Tech 2-1 and losing to New Mexico State 2-1 in overtime.
The Rainbow Wahine have one goal in mind for their game against Nevada.
“We need to win,” senior midfielder Kristyn Shapka said. “If we can score in the first 10 or 20 minutes, it usually helps us set the tone and settle down a little bit, and we’re able to just kind of play our game.”
The ’Bows have been on the losing end of many close draws this season, including games in which they outshot opponents despite being outscored.
“Our (win-loss) stats don’t reflect how we’ve played,” Shapka said. “It’s rough on everyone mentally when you don’t see the wins.”
Nonetheless, the ’Bows have not lost their confidence and go into the game against Nevada with high hopes.
“I go in and the team (goes) in with a great deal of confidence every time we face any opponent, especially the WAC,” head coach Pinsoom Tenzing said.
Nevada is currently ranked seventh out of nine teams in the WAC with a 1-2-0 record, while the Rainbow Wahine are eighth at 1-3-0. Only the top six teams in the conference qualify for the WAC Tournament. The tournament champion gets the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAAs.
For the ’Bows, senior forward Britta Bourne leads the charge with seven goals, 16 points, and a team high of 72 shots. Of those 72 shots, 39 have been on goal.
The weekend also marks the final time seniors Ambree Ako, Larilyn Alota, Britta Bourne, Vanessa Bailey, Kelsie Look, Shauna Musser, Kristyn Shapka and Julia Siljestrom will play in front of the home crowd.
“It’s sad – it went by really fast,” senior midfielder Look said. “(I’m going to miss) just coming out to practice everyday and seeing everyone.”
“It’s going to be a touching farewell,” Tenzing said. “They are really superb kids to be around, and I certainly will miss them.”
The eight seniors will be honored during the Senior Night festivities after their matchup against Utah State.
Shapka said she will miss “playing soccer every day, and the competitive environment between everyone.
“Even if we play board games with each other, it’s extremely competitive,” she said. “I’ll miss that for sure.”
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