Box Score

EL PASO, Tex. – The Rainbow Wahine (5-6-2, 2-1-0 WAC) raced-out to a 2-0 lead early in the first half on scores by Natalie Groenewoud and Joelle Sugai, but could not hold on, dropping their first Western Athletic Conference match of the season to UTEP (13-1-0, 4-1-0 WAC), 3-2, at University Soccer Field.

Hawaii grabbed the early advantage at 17:26, when Groenewoud drilled a left-footer into the upper left hand corner of the net from 22 yards out. Krystalynn Ontai sent a right-footed centering pass from the right flank into the UTEP penalty box. The ball deflected off of a Miner defender to Groenewoud, who settled, and shot to record her third score of the year.

Rainbow sophomore midfielder Sugai gave her team a commanding, 2-0 lead at 28:10 when she hit a right-footed shot from close range to post her first collegiate goal. Sugai initiated the scoring chance when she ran onto a pass from Arlene Devitt and centered the ball to Rainbow Wahine leading scorer Natasha Kai, who flicked a header toward the far post, where an on-rushing Sugai collected it, turned and hit her right footer past UTEP keeper Kyla Clark.

UTEP, ranked 8th in the central region by Soccer Buzz, pulled within a goal when they received a free kick on a Hawaii foul in the 36th minute. Senior midfielder Kelly Parker sent the ball into the Rainbow penalty box on the restart, setting-up Kaletia Roberts' header flick past Hawaii keeper Mahie Atay.

The Miners posted the equalizer at 60:13, when high-scorer Holly Cohen scored off of a loose ball inside the Hawaii penalty box. Following a UTEP corner kick, the ball bounced off of several players in front of the Rainbow goal, finally finding Cohen, who settled and got-off a shot from close range that deflected off a Hawaii defender past Atay.

Hawaii seemed to have a genuine scoring opportunity to regain the lead with 7:40 remaining to play in the match when Kai was taken down from behind on a breakaway inside the UTEP penalty box, seemingly earning a penalty kick for the Rainbow Wahine. But the center official neither issued a caution nor awarded the penalty kick. Instead, the Wahine were given a free kick from outside the penalty box. Arlene Devitt took the shot, missing with a lofting chip shot that sailed over the cross bar.

Clark completed the thrilling come from behind victory with just 59 seconds remaining when the Miners scored off of a Hawaii foul. A Rainbow defender was whistled for taking down Cohen outside the Hawaii penalty box, and was issued a caution for the foul. Parker hit a high right-footer on the restart that hung high for Clark, who ran on and flicked her header shot past Atay.

The Wahine will continue their first WAC road trip of the year on Sunday when they face perennial conference power SMU in Dallas. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m. at Westcott Field.