Box Score

BOULDER, Colo. - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine soccer team's 2007 season came to a close with a 2-0 loss to Colorado in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday at Prentup Field. The Buffaloes scored a goal in each half to snap UH's five-match win streak and send the Rainbow Wahine packing in its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Buffaloes (10-7-4) got goals in the 11th and 61st minute, while the Rainbow Wahine (15-5-2) were shutout for just the third time all season and for the first time in the last 11 matches. Colorado advanced to second-round for the third straight year and will play the winner of the other first-round match in Boulder between Denver and No. 2 Portland.

"We are really grateful for the opportunity to be here," head coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "We've been around for a while and this is our first trip to the NCAA tournament. I'm just a little sad that we didn't play our best game today, but we're a young team and we'll be back next year."

UH came out flat and CU took full advantage scoring a goal at the 10:50 mark. Michaela DeJesus broke free down the right flank and lobbed a ball into the box where Gianna DeSaverio put home a header from five yards out. It was the first goal UH surrendered in six matches, a stretch of nearly 470 minutes.

Hawai`i had a golden opportunity in the 30th minute with a flurry of shots. Taryn Fukuroku's attempt at the mouth of CU goal was stuffed by goalkeeper Kara Linder and her rebound shot bounced off the right post. Alexis Choi looked to volley Fukorku's second attempt but her deflected shot sailed over the goal.

Those opportunities proved to be the best Hawai`i would get all match. UH out-shot the Buffaloes, 6-4, in the first half, but CU ended the match with a 10-9 advantage.

Colorado scored its second goal 15 minutes after halftime when DeJesus found Mel Hicks behind a flat-footed UH defense that was looking to draw an offside. UH did not get the call and Hicks fired a left-footed rocket past Nicoloe McClure for her first goal of the season.

"I didn't feel like we played our game all game long," Tenzing said. "The altitude may have had something to do with it. We're a very well conditioned team and we didn't show that today. It was a long trip and that had to have had something to do with it. I wasn't out there so I can't say for sure but I think it did. Colorado played great today and they definitely deserved to win."

The loss put a close to the best season in program history. The Rainbow Wahine set school records for wins (15), shutouts (12) and goals scored (59) en route to their third regular-season and first-ever WAC Tournament title.

-UH-