DAVIS, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i women's soccer team's second-half comeback came up short and the Rainbow Wahine closed their road trip with a 3-2 loss to UC Davis on Sunday at Aggie Soccer Field in Davis, Calif.
Scoring came in flurries in the Big West match with UC Davis taking a 2-0 lead on goals 42 seconds apart midway through the first half. The teams combined for three goals in a little more than three minutes early in the second half and the Aggies (6-5-2, 2-1-2 Big West) managed to fend off the Rainbow Wahine (4-5-3, 3-3-1) over the final 36 minutes.
UH opened the road trip with a 2-0 win at CSU Bakersfield on Thursday and the split left the Rainbow Wahine with 10 points in the Big West standings, tied for second with Cal Poly and two points behind leader Cal State Fullerton.
UC Davis jumped ahead on a goal by Sam Tristan in the 23
rd minute and the Aggies added another 42 seconds of game time later when Leslie Fregoso tapped in a deflection in front of the goal.
Trailing 2-0 at halftime, the Rainbow Wahine broke through with a goal by
Brynn Mitchell in the 51
st minute. After a scramble in front of the net off a free kick, Mitchell punched in her fourth goal of the season and second of the road trip to cut into the deficit.
UC Davis answered less than a minute later on a goal by Risa Yamada to extend the lead again. Mitchell promptly drew a foul in the box and UH's
Mia Foster converted her third penalty kick of the season to again bring the 'Bows to within a goal in the 54th minute.
UH goalkeeper
Sophie Augustin came up with two saves on close-range shots to keep the 'Bows within striking distance and senior midfielder
Chaima Khammar threatened to tie the match with a shot that slipped just wide.
After UC Davis took 10 shots to UH's three in the first half, the 'Bows had a 9-3 advantage in the second half, but the Aggies earned their first win in the series with UH since 2017.
After a grueling three-week stretch, the Rainbow Wahine will have a bye week before return to Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium for their final homestand of the regular season. UH faces UC Santa Barbara on Oct. 19 and Cal Poly on Oct. 22.
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