Wahine edge past stingy HPU

The finishing touch to the Hawaii soccer team’s 2013 nonconference season wasn’t exactly a masterpiece.

Regardless, the Rainbow Wahine will take Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Division II neighbor Hawaii Pacific.

In an unusual match played at UH’s practice field on the Manoa Lower Campus, the Sea Warriors turtled in their defensive third almost the entire way, making it difficult for the Wahine to get clean looks in the box amid so many bodies.

UH outshot HPU 22-3 but the result was in doubt until the waning moments, when Tiana Fujimoto took a pass from T.J. Reyno and buried it left-footed from the top of the 18-yard box past diving goalkeeper Anu Kahele-Manners in the 84th minute.

"We were working really hard and getting it in was a relief," Fujimoto said.

It was Fujimoto’s sixth goal of the season — and fourth game-winner for UH (5-4) — moving her into a tie for seventh on the UH career list with Veronica Flores at 17.

Reyno had just checked back into the match as a reserve after missing the last five matches with an injured right ankle. On the winning play, she turned down a shot opportunity against a double team for a better one from her teammate.

"I know that my coaches and my team have my back," Reyno said. "Even if I’m hurt, they knew I could still push through and be a hero, like Coach Bud (Michele Nagamine) said."

At the other end, Wahine freshman goalkeeper Monk Berger needed only one save to earn her fourth shutout of the season.

UH now prepares for Big West Conference play. It heads to Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside next Friday and Sunday.

A team-wide inability to finish shots against teams that sit back remains a concern for Nagamine, a former HPU head coach, but on this occasion it was somewhat understandable on a field not meant for official contests.

"Playing (games) on the practice field is not what we’re used to," Nagamine said. "It’s smaller than Waipio … I think we’re short maybe eight yards in the width. And it’s really hard when there’s so many people in and around the 18-yard box. I thought HPU had a really good game plan, they packed it in there, they were organized, they swung the ball. So I really have to credit them."

UH’s first official match on the lower campus practice field since 1999 attracted about 200 spectators. The game was moved from Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium because of a logistical hangup — no permit was acquired for the late-scheduled game in time.

The Wahine improved to 11-0 all-time against the Sea Warriors, including 2-0 with Nagamine. None of the prior 10 matches went to overtime, but it sure seemed this one might before Fujimoto’s blast.

UH enjoyed a rare size advantage on its opponent, but the Sea Warriors held tough with their pack-it-in strategy. HPU (2-3) now heads on the road for its first PacWest Conference matches of the season.

"I think this game is absolutely huge for our confidence," said HPU coach Gina Brewer, a former Wahine assistant (2008-10). "They realize they can play with very, very good teams. … Going into conference, it’s really important. We got a lot of younger players experience today. They need to play these big games, these tough games, to make them better."

UH’s annual alumnae match, which was to be played on Sunday, is canceled because the Waipio stadium is unavailable.