Pascua’s goal gives UH win

Hawaii’s emergency response team came through when it mattered.

The Rainbow Wahine soccer team remained perfect in overtime periods this season thanks to Krystal Pascua’s golden goal in the 103rd minute, boosting UH over UC Riverside on Sunday night 2-1 in a double-OT contest.

It was physically draining for sure, but emotionally?

"Emotions went wild, actually," said midfielder Storm Kenui, who slotted an equalizer past the Highlanders’ goalkeeper off the right post and in just 25 seconds after Riverside got on the board first in the 79th minute. "The whole team felt like we deserved this game. So we had to come back, tie it up and then win, somehow."

With the score knotted at 1-1, the teams couldn’t break through in the first 10-minute extra period. But three minutes into the second OT, freshman Sonest Furtado crossed the ball into a crowd in front of the Riverside goal. It ended up at the capable feet of the senior Pascua.

"We had so many opportunities, but that was the one that went in," said Pascua, who tied her career high with her fourth goal of the season. "Sonest worked her butt off to get that cross in. It just missed (her sister) Kama’s leg and I was lucky enough to be right there to get it in."

UH players dogpiled in the 18-yard box near the spot where Pascua found paydirt, her second instant winner in extra minutes this season.

The Wahine (6-6) improved to 3-0 in overtime matches and 1-1 in the Big West.

The Wahine were in must-win mode after dropping their conference opener to Cal State Fullerton on Thursday.

Once their mission was accomplished, Michele Nagamine had perhaps her shortest postgame on-field talk with her team in her four years as UH coach.

"Time, everything was a blur to me," she said. "To get the goal and grind it out like that, it just speaks volumes about that determined effort. It’s one of our core values, ‘protective, determined and ohana.’ And they really showed that today."

Riverside (5-4-3, 0-1-1) appeared fatigued late in regulation, and UH’s speedy forwards increasingly had clear avenues to attack.

Sophomore Erica Young made her fifth straight start in goal and improved to 3-2 over that span. She made a diving save on a breakaway shot by Tyler Cunningham with five minutes left in regulation to preserve the tie. Cunningham, Riverside’s scoring leader, had crossed in the assist to Blanca Barrio to get the Highlanders up 1-0.

"The girl who scored was actually my man, so I take full responsibility," Kenui said. "I was like, I have to come back and do something about it, and with the team buildup (in the Riverside box) it happened for us."

Kenui’s goal was the sophomore’s team-best fifth of the season.

UH had a chance to win it in the final seconds of regulation. It got a free kick from right at the top of the 18-yard box with under a minute left. But Krystal Pascua’s shot hit the Highlanders wall and Sonest Furtado’s rebound attempt carried out of play.

The Wahine depart Wednesday for games at UC Santa Barbara (6-5-2, 0-2) on Friday and Cal Poly (6-7, 1-1) on Sunday.