Match Notes

The University of Hawai'i women's soccer team hits the final stretch of the regular-season with two crucial home matches over the next two weeks. First up for the Rainbow Wahine is a matchup with UC Irvine on Thursday, Oct. 24. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium and admission is free.
 
The Rainbow Wahine remain in the thick of the race for four spots in next month's Big West Tournament after a solid road showing this past weekend. UH picked up its first-ever Big West road win with a 2-0 decision over UC Davis, then three days later gained a hard-earned draw at Long Beach State. With seven points, UH is in a tie for sixth in the standings and are just two points off the pace for a tournament berth. UC Irvine, UH's opponent this week, is currently in a tie for second in the Big West with nine points.
 
UH is led by Tiana Fujimoto who has been a scoring machine, netting nine of the team's 15 goals this year. The junior has tallied six game-winning goals this year and has been the hero in UH's last four wins with a goal either late in the match or in overtime.
 
Meanwhile, Monk Berger has been stout in goal. The reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Week, has posted a single-season record six shutouts this year and boasts a 1.01 goals against average.   
 
Game 16 Notes
Opponent: UC Irvine (8-6, 3-2 BWC)
Date: Thursday, Oct. 24
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Waipio Stadium (4,500)
Admission: Free
Television: OCSports. Scott Robbs (pxp), Jessica Domingo (analyst) and Leila Wai (analyst).
Live Stats: HawaiiAthletics.com
Live Steaming: BigWest.tv
Promotions: Jack in the Box is the match sponsor and will award "Burgers for a Month" (a $150 value), to the winner of the on-field promotion during halftime. Fans can register to participate at the sports marketing table next to the concessions stand. Also, t-shirts will be tossed into the crowd after every UH goal.
Series History: UCI leads, 3-0-1
About UCI: This will be the Anteater's first match in a week after falling at home to Long Beach State, 2-1, on Oct. 17..prior to that UCI had won three straight, including a 4-3 win at league leader Cal Poly, handing the Mustangs their only Big West loss thus far...UCI is an impressive 5-2 in road matches this year...UCI is the second-most potent team in the Big West (23 goals) and has had 11 different players find the back of the net, led by Laura McGrail's five goals...Jenn Randazzo and Corey Tobin have split goalkeeping duties this year.
 
'Bow Bits: UH has lost just twice (7-2-1) in 10 league home matches in the last three years under Michele Nagamine…both losses have come in double-overtime (Cal State Fullerton, 2012; Cal Poly, 2013).....UH, ironically, has a better road record (4-3-1) than home record (3-4)...UH finished with its first winning road record (regular-season) since 2003 (7-1-1)....UH picked up its first-ever Big West road win in eight tries with a 2-0 decision over UC Davis on Oct. 17, then followed that up with a tie at Long Beach State...Monk Berger tallied 10 saves and back-to-back shutouts en route to Big West Defensive Player of the Week honors, her second this year...the true freshman has six shutouts on the season, setting a new UH single-season record previously shared by three others (Mahie Atay, Erin Chow, Kori Lu)...Tiana Fujimoto scored for the third consecutive match when she netted the game-winner in UH's 2-0 win at UC Davis...it was her sixth-game winner this year, one shy of the single-season record set by Natasha Kai twice (2003, '04)...Fujimoto has a team-leading nine goals this season and is fifth all-time in goals at UH with 20…Fujimoto also ranks tied for third all-time in game-winning goals (7) and eighth in points (37)…UH is 1-3-1 in overtime matches this year, including 0-2-1 in Big West play…the Rainbow Wahine lead the Big West in shots per match (15.53)…UH leads the Big West and ranks 16th in the nation in average home attendance at 1,136 fans per match.