Box Score

RUSTON, La. - The University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine soccer team concluded its three-match road trip with an easy 5-0 win over Louisiana Tech Sunday afternoon at Joe Ailliet Stadium. The Rainbow Wahine (11-4-2, 4-1 WAC) continued its march toward a Western Athletic Conference title with its fourth win in five league matches.

Two days after a bitter loss at Utah State--the team's first conference setback of the year--UH cruised past the Lady Techsters (2-13-1, 0-5-1). UH scored less than 10 minutes into the match, took a 2-0 lead at the break and tacked on three more goals in the second half.

Five different Rainbow Wahine scored, while junior midfielder Alexis Choi tied a single-match school record with three assists.

UH got its first goal at the 8:31 mark off the left foot of Mari Punzal. Punzal made her first start as a striker since the season opener and took full advantage scoring UH's first goal from seven yards out off a cross from Koren Takeyama. It was the third goal of the year for the freshman.

The Rainbow Wahine got its second goal in the 30th minute courtesy of all-conference forward Taryn Fukuroku. Choi slipped a through ball to Fukuroku whose left-footed shot deflected off LTU goalkeeper Tara Gavalk and slowly rolled inside the far post.

UH's third goal came less than two minutes into the second half when Tehane Higa put home a header off of an Ambree Ako corner kick. It was the second straight match Higa scored off a corner kick. It also marked the sixth straight match in which Ako has either scored or assisted on a goal, including all five WAC matches this year.

The fourth goal of the match came with little more than two minutes left in the match as Kelli-Anne Chang put away a left-footed volley off a cross from Choi. It was Chang's fourth goal of the season. UH scored its final goal with just five seconds left as Choi found Vanessa Bailey near the mouth of the goal for an easy put away. With her third assist Choi tied a school mark held by five others, including Jessica Domingo who did the same versus Duquesne earlier this year.

Goalkeepers Kori Lu and Nicole McClure split playing time and combined for the team's eighth shutout of the year.

With the win UH moved back up the conference standings and control its own destiny in the race for the WAC title. The Rainbow Wahine have just two conference matches remaining and can guarantee an outright conference championship with a pair of wins.

The Rainbow Wahine return to Hawai`i for the final two regular-season matches of the year. The last homestand of the season begins with a crucial match versus Boise State on Friday, Nov. 2. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

-UH-