Add another chapter to the soccer handbook on Hawaii’s annual frustration against Pacific.

The nonconference rival Tigers bit the Rainbow Wahine coming out of halftime for a 1-0 win in the first game of the OHANA Hotels and Resorts Shootout last night at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

In the season opener for both teams, a crowd of 1,672 saw the Rainbow Wahine look sharp in stretches of the first half but drop off a level coming out of the break. As a result, they fell to 0-3-3 to Pacific going back to 2004.

UH’s winless drought in season openers also extended to three years. That was despite outshooting its foe — a recurring theme from last season — at a 2-to-1 clip.

Tigers sophomore forward Laura Hernandez had the game-winner in the 57th minute, thanks to some nifty Pacific footwork in the box. Kristina Wavomba dropped off the ball for Angelica Figueroa, who back-tapped it to Hernandez at the left edge of the box. Hawaii goalkeeper Kanani Taaca, who had two great parries in the first half, had no chance at the strike to the opposite post.

Pacific, of the Big West Conference, almost added another goal with 6:30 left, but a header deflected off the crossbar.

UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing pointed out that Pacific had two exhibitions in Costa Rica to warm up for the season, while it was the first competition for his young team. But physicality, he said, was the true difference in the game, as it has been between them in recent seasons.

"Every year," Tenzing said. "I keep warning our kids, they’re not dirty, but they play the ball really, really hard."

After shaking off the opening jitters, it was UH that had the best scoring chance of the first half. Junior defender Brittani Lum’s crossing shot from about 25 yards out deflected off the rightmost part of the crossbar with 11:30 left in the period. That was as frustratingly close as the Wahine would come in 12 shots.

"It’s become a friendly rivalry," said Pacific coach Keith Coleman. "We were lucky to come out 0-0 in the first half; they hit that one off the post. They have a very good young team. If that had gone in, it’s a whole different ballgame. We looked at it as an opportunity, and I thought we came out a lot better in the second half. … We got the one we needed."

UH sophomore forward Skye Shimabukuro had a few chances at an equalizer in the final 30 minutes, but was blocked by a defender each time. An airborne shot by senior Mari Punzal off a corner kick with about 15 minutes to play sailed harmlessly wide.

A final chance by Punzal on a counterattack in the final 10 seconds was snuffed with a defensive tackle.

"We were all a little high off the first half. We went into the second half a little over-anticipating what they had to offer," said Punzal, a co-captain who was playing her first match at forward, up from midfield. "I don’t think I was as effective as I should have been. … I think it will come with time, most definitely."

Six local players suited up for Pacific, including four seniors who started: forward Sammi Teramae (‘Iolani), defender Kylee Ah Choy (Kamehameha), midfielder Natalie Wong (Mililani) and midfielder Chyanne Alejado (Kapolei). Two freshmen, midfielder Sasha Moscatello (Mililani) and goalkeeper Shanelle Kapaona (Kamehameha) were the others.

Moscatello went out with a leg injury 15 minutes into the second half and didn’t return.

Tenzing thought true freshmen Tarra Gabriel and Karli Look had the strongest performances among his young players.

Pacific can win the round-robin tournament outright with a win vs. Wagner today at 7 p.m. UH faces Wagner in a KFVE-televised game at 5 p.m. tomorrow.