In an instant, one brilliant connection erased two weeks of frustration.
Kama Pascua put home the golden ball on a feed from T.J. Reyno five minutes into overtime as Hawaii notched its first win of the season, a 1-0 decision over Denver on Monday at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
“It’s what they needed,” UH coach Michele Nagamine said. “I thought they deserved it. I thought we battled to the end. It was such an emotional game because this team is so eager to please and they try to hard to do what’s asked of them and I think that kind of psychs them out a little bit.”
Not this time. UH (1-2-1) received the Outrigger Resorts No Ka Oi tournament title by virtue of the defeat of the Pioneers and a draw with Wyoming on Thursday.
“I think this is awesome for us and something that will keep us motivated and on a high,” Pascua said after netting her first goal of the season and 10th career. She was named tournament MVP.
Reyno won the ball at midfield and jetted upfield. After drawing a few defenders, she tapped the ball to her left, where Pascua received it in space. Pascua reversed direction in the box, throwing off the Denver defenders, and went near post on a grounder past Pioneers goalkeeper Cassidy Rey.
“I just saw Kama and I knew she could score … so I passed it to her. I always find her on the side,” Reyno said.
“We work on that a lot in practice,” Pascua said. “We like to focus on the connection between the midfielders and forwards.”
Rainbow Wahine players surrounded her in a big group hug; even assistant coach Mike Herman sprinted 60 yards from the sideline to get in on it.
Denver (0-3-1) of the Summit League had a few chances throughout but was denied its first win.
Wahine goalkeeper Monk Berger earned her first solo shutout of the season. It was the junior’s first in two years.
UH now heads on the road for matches at Portland State and San Francisco on Friday and Sunday.
“I think it’s good that they know what this tastes like (going on the road),” Nagamine said, “because we’ve had bad tastes in our mouth after the last three games, and this one tastes pretty good.”
UH got fired up with 22 minutes to play when co-captain Storm Kenui got tangled up with a Pioneers player and was assessed a yellow card, but Pascua could not capitalize on a close chance shortly afterward.
The Wahine got off 20 shots in regulation — including eight on frame — but quality looks in the box were few. UH went to extra time for the second straight match.
