LA JOLLA, Calif. – The Hawai'i soccer team continued its historic stretch of play with a 1-0 shutout at UC San Diego Thursday night to extend its winning streak to a program single-season record seven matches.
The Rainbow Wahine (9-6, 5-0 Big West) moved into sole possession of first place in the conference standings with the win and are the first Big West team to start 5-0 in league play since 2010 (UC Irvine). UH's five conference wins are its most since joining the Big West and the most wins in league play overall since 2007.
Hawai'i also recorded its fourth consecutive shutout, the longest streak of consecutive matches without allowing a goal by the program since 2007. Keeper
Kennedy Justin recorded her fourth consecutive clean sheet by recording seven saves as the UH defense has now gone 374 straight minutes without allowing a goal, dating back to a Sept. 22 win over Hawai'i Pacific.
For just the third time this season, the Rainbow Wahine took the lead in the first half.
Nalani Damacion took a pass from
Cate Sheahan from about 25 yards away, made one move to get free and delivered a strike in under the crossbar to make it 1-0 in the 26th minute.
The goal was Damacion's team-leading fifth of the year – all of them game-winners – giving her the most game-winning goals among freshmen nationally. She also leads the Big West in game-winning goals and is now tied for the fourth-most in a single season in school history with Natasha Kai (2002).
The 'Bows fended off a flurry of Triton attacks coming out of halftime, as UH faced four UCSD shots in the first eight minutes of the second half, two of which were saved by Justin.
The Rainbow Wahine continue Big West play on the road Sunday when they take on UC Irvine at 3 p.m. HT.
