Box Score
BOISE, Idaho - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine soccer team made program history with a 1-0 win over Fresno State in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship Sunday afternoon at the Boas Soccer Complex. The Rainbow Wahine captured its first-ever WAC Tournament title and in the process locked up its first-ever NCAA Tournament bid.
Sophomore Emma Makepa-Foley scored the game-winning goal in the 59th minute to lift UH to victory. Makepa-Foley's goal came on a spectacular header off a UH free kick. Nicole Mikula served a ball from the right flank into the box, where Makepa-Foley flicked the ball off the left post and into the back of the net.
UH (15-4-2) then hung on for the next 30 minutes. Fresno State (13-7-1), making its third straight appearance in the tournament finals, out-shot UH, 15-9, for the match, including 11-3 in the second half. But goalkeepers Kori Lu and Nicole McClure made Makepa-Foley's goal stand by combining for the shutout win, UH's school-record 12th of the year.
WAC Defensive Player of the Year Tehane Higa did not start the match and played limited minutes after suffering an injury during UH's 1-0 semifinal win over Utah State on Sunday. However, freshman defender Chelsea Deptula stepped up and was named the tournament MVP after helping UH pitch its fifth straight shutout win in a row, and sixth in the last seven matches.
Both teams had their share of chances before UH's second-half goal. Hawai`i's best opportunity came in the 15th minute as junior forward Taryn Fukuroku hit a volley near the mouth of the goal, but Fresno State goalkeeper Kaity Revel made a one-handed save. Fresno State's best shot came late in the first half on a 35-yard free kick. Andrea Alires' shot was on target but Lu punched the ball off the crossbar and over the goal to avert a Bulldog score.
UH's magical season continues in the NCAA Tournament, beginning Friday, Nov. 16. The field of 64 will be announced Monday at 8:00 p.m. EST on ESPN News.
All-Tournament Team
Andrea Salvador, F, Fresno State
Candice Clark, F, Utah State
Taryn Fukuroku, F, Hawai`i
Ambree Ako, F, Hawai`i
Ali Sill, MF, Fresno State
Jessica Domingo, MF, Hawai`i
Abby Hunt, MF, Utah State
Koren Takeyama, D, Hawai`i
Andrea Alires, D, Fresno State
*Chelsea Deptula, D, Hawai`i
Kaity Revel, GK, Fresno State
*MVP
-UH-
