Box Score

WAIPAHU, HI - The University of Hawai'i soccer team clinched at least a share of the Western Athletic Conference regular-season title with a 3-0 shutout of Nevada Friday night at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium. Senior forward Natasha Kai scored all three UH goals as the Rainbow Wahine (9-7-2, 5-1 WAC) also secured the No. 1 seed in next week's WAC Tournament in Boise, Idaho.

The WAC title is the second in the history of the program. UH shared the regular-season championship with SMU in 2003. The Rainbow Wahine can capture the WAC title outright with a win or tie in the team's season finale against Fresno State on Sunday.

Hawai'i and Nevada (10-6-1, 4-2 WAC) entered the match tied for first place in the WAC and the Rainbow Wahine came out energized from the very start. The Rainbow Wahine were relentless throughout and ended the match with a 21-4 shot advantage with Kai recording her first hat trick of the year and the seventh of her career.

Kai's first goal came in the 29th minute when she received a pass from Adria Campbell near the corner of the six-yard box and hammered home a liner in the far post. The assist by Campbell was her ninth of the year, tying a single-season mark.

Kai would strike again just six minutes later. Lehua Wood started the play by sending a long ball from the backline. Kai raced past two Wolf Pack defenders, tracked the ball down, headed it past Nevada goalkeeper Megan Tarpenning and converted on an open-net goal. The hat trick was completed in the 76th minute, when Taryn Fukuroku sent a through ball in the box to Kai, who nailed a left-footer far post for her team-leading 14th goal of the year.

Hawai'i will play their final home match of the year when they take on Fresno State Sunday at 5 p.m. Five Rainbow Wahine seniors will be honored following the conclusion of the match.

Match Statistics