Box Score
DALLAS, Tex. – The Wahine soccer team saw its win streak, and its Western Athletic Conference title hopes fall tonight in their third match in four days, as they lost to host SMU in the league championship match, 2-0.
Hawaii, who entered the WAC Tournament with three straight conference wins to finish in a tie as regular-season league runners-up, raced through the quarterfinals and semifinals by upsetting the tournament's second and third seeds Boise State (7-1), and Rice (2-0).
SMU's first score came at 17:29 on an own goal by the Hawaii defense. After playing scoreless soccer into the 18th minute, the Mustangs cracked the scoreboard when a Hawaii defender attempting to put a foot on a Tara Comfort cross from the right flank, inadvertently pushed it past Wahine keeper Jennifer Churchill.
Churchill stood strong, making three saves in the first half, holding the high octane Mustangs scoreless except for the own goal despite the fact that Hawaii was out-shot, 12-to-3 through the first 45-minutes of play.
The Wahine's best scoring chance in the first half came at 23:39, when Arlene Devitt created some space for herself despite a tight mark and hit a low, hard, right-footed shot toward the far post from the top of the SMU penalty box. Mustang keeper Erin McCleod dove quickly to her right to smother the shot for the save.
SMU added another score at 57:08 when Sarah Harvey made a near-post run onto a Diana Kelm free kick and rattled the ball into the goal off the hands of an on-rushing Churchill. The free kick was awarded to SMU about 40 yards from goal, setting up Kelm's assist on a high, floating right-footed kick.
Four Wahine were voted to the WAC Championship all-tournament squad. Seniors Veronica Flores and Carmel Hurley earned spots on the team, as did sophomores Arlene Devitt and Liz Lusk.
Flores posted the school's first hat trick in an opening round win over Boise State. Flores, a 1999 All-WAC first-teamer, finishes her collegiate career as the school's all-time scoring leader, with 47 points. She also leaves with the UH career records for shots (131), and match records for goals, points (6), and career game-winners (6).
Senior defender Hurley helped lead the Hawaii defense to a 7-1 rout of Boise State in the quarterfinals, and a 2-0 shutout of Rice in the semi's to earn her all-tournament spot. Hurley also earned first-team All-WAC honors earlier this week.
Devitt, also a 2001 All-WAC pick, was voted to the all-tournament team after posting two goals and two assists in three matches. Devitt set Hawaii records for season points (29), goals (12), and shots (67) this year.
Lusk scored both of her team's goals in a semifinal win over second-seeded Rice to finalize her position on the all-tournament team. Lusk also played solid defense in the middle of the Wahine back line.
On the year, the Wahine set 23 records, including season team records for points (114), goals (38), assists (38), and shots (275), making the 2001 Wahine the highest scoring team in the school's history.
