Box Score
DALLAS, Tex. – Senior striker
Veronica Flores enjoyed the best outing of her fine collegiate career, netting the school's first three-goal performance in leading the Wahine to a record-setting 7-1 win over Boise State in their quarterfinal match at the Western Athletic Conference championship tournament.
Flores, a native of Mt. Vernon. Wash, tied the school record for most points in a match with her six point outburst. On the season, Flores now has 13 points on four goals and five assists. Flores also takes over possession of the school's career points record (47), and ties her with Jennifer Starsiak for the school's career goals mark as well.
The Wahine opened the scoring at 5:47, when senior striker Veronica Flores pushed a right-footer inside the far post from about seven yards out and beat 2001 first-team All-WAC keeper Jenne Orm.
The scoring sequence was initiated when Arlene Devitt, who also earned first-team all-conference honors today, sent a cross from the right flank across the box to an awaiting Flores. Flores settled, and worked a one-two combination pass with fellow senior Jennifer Starsiak to free herself for the goal.
Devitt scored at 11:03 when she sent a one-touch left-footed shot off freshman Joelle Sugai's well-placed cross from the left flank.
The Broncos responded with their first score at 17:20 when Abbe Roche sent Dayle McNabb through for a one-v-one with Hawaii keeper Jennifer Churchill. McNabb tapped a soft right-footer under a diving Churchill for her third score of the season.
Flores struck again at 25:41 when she lofted a soft, right-footed shot over a leaping Orm from the top of the Boise State penalty box. Devitt hustled onto a fifty-fifty ball and headed it so space, chased it down, and centered it an awaiting Flores.
It was Flores again at 40:16 when she settled Kristaynn Ontai's cross just off the far post, and then drilled a right-footer up into the top of the net for her third goal of the night to record the school's first-ever hat trick performance. The assist was Ontai's fourth of the year.
Hawaii opened the second half when Pam Fong scored on a left-footed shot near the center of the penalty box. Devitt created the scoring chance when she ran onto a ball misplayed by the Boise State defense, sprinted 30 yards toward goal, and then sent a centering pass to a wide open Fong.
Devitt pushed the Hawaii lead to 6-1 when she scored with a right-footed shot from the center of the Broncos penalty box. The scoring run began when midfielder Sasha Araya-Schraner cleared a ball to the left flank where Joelle Sugai worked it downfield a few yards before centering it to Devitt, who battled the ball from a pair of Boise State defenders before emerging with control about 25 yards from goal. She then ran to goal to set-up her school record 12th goal of the year.
The goal also helped Devitt set a new Hawaii record for points (29), and goals in a season.
Redshirt freshman Wendi Young, making just her second appearance of the season, scored the Wahine's seventh goal of the evening when she ran onto Wanette Miyashiro's long, high pass into the Boise State penalty box and flicked it over Orm. The seven scores ties the record for most goals by a team in a Western Athletic Conference championship tournament contest. The seven goals are also the most ever scored by a Boise State opponent. Miyashiro was credited with the assist, her first of the season.
Hawaii keeper Churchill earned her ninth win of the season, tying her for the school record in that category.
The Wahine advance to tomorrow's semifinal against Rice at 5:00 p.m. Host SMU will face the winner of tonight's Fresno State-Tulsa match in tomorrow's other semifinal contest.
