Waipi'o—For the first time this season, the University of Hawai'i soccer team suffered its first Big West Conference loss of the season falling to UC Santa Barabra, 4-1 on Sunday night.
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The Rainbow Wahine (5-7-3, 3-1-2) are still in a position to control their destiny of making the Big West Tournament for the first time in program history but will have to do so on the road. The Gauchos (7-4-5, 3-1-2) helped their situation in terms of the conference tournament by matching the 'Bows' record and in points. Much like UH, UCSB will have to clinch a spot in the tournament with two road matches in the coming week.
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UH fell into an early hole as Shaelan Murison knotted a goal in the eighth minute, the same situation the 'Bows found themselves in on Thursday against visiting Cal Poly. Murison didn't let up and made a statement throughout the night registering a hat trick against the UH defense and assisting on the other goal by UCSB. Murison's night added to her total as she now has 16 goals on the season.
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The lone goal by UH came in the 51st minute as sophomore forward
Kayla Ryan regained the team lead with her fifth goal of the season as she sent a penalty kick into the net. It was the first penalty kick goal of the season for UH and the first of Ryan's career.
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After the match, UH honored it's six seniors on the field with their annual senior ceremony.
Tia Furuta,
Madison Moore,
Kayla Watanabe,
Kiri Dale,
Mikaelah Johnson-Griggs, and
Alexis Mata were all recognized for their contributions to the Rainbow Wahine program.
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The final two matches of the season are critical for the 'Bows as they'll play at UC Davis on Thursday, followed by a stop at Long Beach State on Sunday for the regular-season finale. The Beach currently sits at No. 6 in standings while the Aggies are at No. 7.
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