Box Score

WAIPAHU, O`ahu - Kelly McCloskey scored the game-winning goal off a free kick one minute into the second half to lift the University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine soccer team to a 2-1 win over Detroit in the OHANA Hotels & Resorts Soccer Invitational Thursday night at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium. The Rainbow Wahine improved to 6-2-2 on the season.

It was a roller coaster match for the Rainbow Wahine who avoided overtime for the first time in six contests. Hawai`i survived a flurry of Titan shots in the opening minutes, responded with a goal shortly before the 10-minute mark, then saw that lead evaporate just moments later. UH scored right of the gates in the second half and kept Detroit (2-5) at bay nearly the rest of the way, but had to hold off a Titan rally at the end of the match before recording its third win in the last four matches.

Hawai'i got on the board 9:53 into the match when junior defender Koren Takeyama attacked right up the middle of the Titan defense and slipped a through ball into the box to sophomore forward Taryn Fukuroku. With only the goalie in her way, Fukuroku poked a right-footed shot into the corner of the net for an early 1-0 lead for UH.

The Titans struck back a little more than five minutes later when UH failed to clear a ball in the box. Megan Canty found herself with a wide-open shot eight yards out and hammered home the equalizer over the reach of Rainbow Wahine goalkeeper Kori Lu. It marked the first time this season that UH had given up a first-half goal.

With the score knotted 1-1 at halftime, the Rainbow Wahine didn't take long after the break to regain the lead. After being awarded a free kick near the right sideline, McCloskey lofted a diagonal ball from 25 yards out. The ball bounced in front of UH defender Tehane Higa who swiped and missed the ball before it one-hopped over Titan goalkeeper Katie Fortenberry for what proved to be the game-winner. The goal was McCloskey's first of the season and the third of her career. It was also her second-career game-winner.

UH did not allow a single shot by Detroit in the second half, until the final five minutes when a desperate Titan team put on a full-throttle attack, including a shot off the crossbar by Andrea DiPace. Hawai`i, however, held on and eventually out-shot the Titans, 18-14 for the match.

The OHANA Hotels & Resorts Soccer Invitational continues Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. with a meeting between Detroit and Cal State Northridge. The Rainbow Wahine conclude the tournament against Cal State Northridge on Monday, Sept. 25. Kickoff is at 5:00 p.m.

Box Score

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