Game Notes

HONOLULU – The Hawai'i women's soccer team will put its three-game winning streak on the line this week in the third and final weekend of the Outrigger Soccer Classic Series when it hosts Idaho on Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. and Saint Mary's on Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (3-0-1) are coming off back-to-back overtime wins against Sacramento State and Idaho State last weekend, and have won three straight contests overall, each by one goal.
 
"We've been able to find a good cohesion from back to front. We're building good connections between our backs and our midfield and our forward line," head coach Michele Nagamine said of her team's success in the early going. "Heaven knows we created a lot of opportunities last week. This week we've been honing in on a lot of repetition for the forwards, finishing, getting on the ends of balls, and building some composure."
 
While Hawai'i is battle-tested—having gone to overtime in three out of four games this season—playing on back-to-back days presents a different challenge.
 
"We're going to have to pace ourselves," Nagamine said. "Having zero recovery time between the two matches, it's not the ideal situation but it is what it is. We've been prepping all season for this. We've told the kids, this is why we need to be fit, this is why we need to be mentally tough."
 
Idaho returns all 11 starters from its 2015 team that went 14-4-3 overall and 9-0-1 in the Big Sky conference. The Vandals scored 44 goals a year ago and scorers of 43 of those goals return for 2016. Idaho is 1-1-1 on the young season, coming off a 2-2 draw against Gonzaga.
 
Saint Mary's is 0-4 in the early part of 2016, and Hawai'i will be the Gaels' fifth Big West opponent in five matches. Three of SMC's four losses have been by one goal—including two in overtime—but the Gaels have scored only one goal in their four games.
 
Hawai'i earned co-champion status during the first week of the Outrigger Soccer Classic Series after a tie with Oregon and win over Nevada. The Rainbow Wahine were outright champions of the second part of the Outrigger Soccer Classic Series with a 2-0 record last weekend. After this week's matches, Hawai'i will travel to Colorado for three games, taking on Colorado (Sept. 9), Denver (Sept. 11) and Air Force (Sept. 13) in the final tune-up before Big West Conference play starts at Cal Poly on Sept. 30.
 

NOTES: Hawai'i freshman Lillie French will square off against her twin sister's team, Idaho, on Sept. 2. Sophie French has played in two games for the Vandals this season…the Rainbow Wahine are unbeaten in their last 10 overtime games, going 6-0-4 since their last OT loss in 2013…the last time Hawai'i was unbeaten through four matches was 2007 when the team started 5-0-1 before being dealt its first loss.
 
 
Games 5 & 6
Who: Hawai'i (3-0-1) vs. Idaho (1-1-1), Saint Mary's (0-4)
When: Thursday, Sept. 1 (7:00 p.m.), Friday, Sept. 2 (7:00 p.m.)
Where: Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium
TV: None
Streaming Video: None
Live Stats: HawaiiAthletics.com
Promotions: Outrigger Hotels and Resorts is the tournament sponsor and will distribute 500 hand fans prior to each UH match. Visit the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts tent near the main entrance for fantastic prize giveaways, activities, and an enter-to-win drawing for a prize-pack valued at $100. FREE shave ice will be provided to the first 200 fans starting 30 minutes prior to each UH contest. Keiki (eighth grade and under) can register to participate in the on-field promotion at halftime for the chance to win an Outrigger Hotels and Resorts prize-pack. The first 500 fans to visit the sports marketing table located near the main entrance will receive a FREE Rainbow Wahine Soccer poster. Also, custom tournament t-shirts will be tossed into the crowd after every UH goal.
 
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