COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The University of Hawai'i women's soccer team struck first, but Air Force's second-half surge lifted the Falcons to a 3-1 win over the Rainbow Wahine on Thursday at Cadet Soccer Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.
In UH's first road match of the season, junior
Brynn Mitchell made her first start for the Rainbow Wahine (1-2-1) and opened the scoring in the 11
th minute by drilling her second goal in as many matches, this one coming off
Cate Sheahan's team-leading third assist of the season.
Air Force's Jordi Ives answered in the 18
th minute and pushed the Falcons (3-1-0) ahead in the 65
th minute with her second goal of the match. Caeli Sherman added an insurance goal in the 78
th minute to seal the Falcons' third straight win.
UH pressured the Falcons early in both halves and Mitchell posted the first shot of match 17 seconds after kickoff. She opened the scoring after UH goalkeeper
Sophie Augustin blasted a soaring punt and Sheahan flicked a header to Mitchell in stride. Mitchell got behind the Air Force defense and her high shot deflected off the hand of AFA goalkeeper Sydney Davis and into the net for UH's 10
th goal of the season.
Ives' first goal sent the teams into halftime tied 1-1 and UH again pressed the attack early in the second with six shots, three on goal, in the first 15 minutes. But the Falcons held off the Rainbow Wahine and took their first lead when Kendall Rippley dropped a pass to Ives to set up the go-ahead goal.
The Rainbow Wahine were a player down for the final 23 minutes of the match and Sherman scored off an assist from Raine Komata.
UH took 16 shots, putting eight on goal.
Krista Peterson took four shots with Mitchell and
Amber Gilbert each firing three.
The Rainbow Wahine head to Las Vegas for the second half of their first road trip of the season and face UNLV (2-2-1) on Sunday at Peter Johann Memorial Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 a.m. Hawai'i time (noon Pacific).
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