Box Score

HONOLULU--Natasha Kai scored a pair of goals and the Hawaii defense shut down a dangerous UTEP squad in a 3-0 conference win Sunday afternoon at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium. The Rainbow Wahine stopped a two-match slide, improving to 8-4-1 overall and 3-1 in the Western Athletic Conference.

The Rainbow Wahine showed no letdown after an exhausting 4-3 loss to conference-leader SMU on Friday. UH scored all three of its goals in the first 24 minutes, including a pair by Kai, and cruised the rest of the way.

Liz Lusk got UH on the board just six minutes into the match with her first goal of the season. Kai headed a piece of the ball in a crowded box and Lusk flicked an upward shot just inside the left post. The pair hooked up again less than five minutes later when Lusk lofted a pass from her backfield position to Kai who beat two UTEP defenders and the goalie for her 15th goal of the year. Her 16th of the year came in the 24th minute when she nailed a header in the back of the net after a cross from Natalie Groenewoud from the right wing. With that goal Kai, tied her own single-season record for goals set last year.

UTEP (7-4, 2-1 WAC), which came in as one of the highest scoring teams in the NCAA, was shutout for the first time this season. Erin Chow started for an injured Mahie Atay at goalie, and was rarely challenged on the day, finishing with three saves.

The Rainbow Wahine will next hit the road for a three-match road swing, starting with WAC opponent Nevada, October 10 at 6 p.m. PST.

Line Score
UTEP 0 0 -- 0
Hawaii 3 0 -- 3

-UH-