WAIPAHU, O`ahu – The University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine soccer team played the No. 25 Brigham Young Cougars to a 0-0 tie in the season opener in the OHANA Hotels & Resorts No Ka `Oi at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium Friday.

 

The freshman duo of Kristina Ehrett and Kanani Taaca shared time in the goal, recording five and two saves, respectively, to keep the Cougars off the board. Britta Bourne led the Rainbow Wahine with four shots, including UH's only shot on goal.

 

The defensive battle started as a stalemate in the first half as neither team put a shot on goal until BYU's Jennie Marshall posted two in the 42nd and 43rd minutes of the game.

 

The action was more rapid in the second half as Hawai`i watched four of its five shots go wide, including a penalty kick by Ambree Ako went just above the goal in the 82nd minute.

 

Ako posted the only shot, also wide, in the first overtime. But things got interesting in the second overtime. Bourne had UH's only shot on goal in the 113th minute, which was saved by a jumping McKenzie Olson in BYU's goal. BYU had a couple shots late as Carlee Payne went high in the 118th minute with Marshall shooting just wide in the waning seconds of the match.

 

The Rainbow Wahine will next host No. 2 Stanford Cardinal on Sunday, Aug. 23, at 5 p.m., at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

 

-UH-