Waipio, HI - Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) fought hard in their season opener but fell 4-1 to the University of Hawaii at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium. Despite a strong defensive showing in the first half, the Sharks were unable to hold off the Rainbow Wahine's second-half surge.
Game Summary:
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First Half: Both teams battled through a scoreless first half, with HPU's defense and goalkeeper keeping Hawaii at bay, despite facing an onslaught of shots. Hawaii racked up 20 shots in the first half alone, but the Sharks managed to hold them off.
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Second Half: The game opened up in the second half when Hawaii's Cate Sheahan broke the deadlock in the 54th minute, assisted by Alice Davidson. This was followed by a penalty goal from Fabiola Zamora in the 72nd minute, putting Hawaii up 2-0. Just two minutes later, Tatum Porter added to Hawaii's tally, assisted again by Sheahan.
HPU responded in the 76th minute when Cassidy George netted her first goal of the season to make it 3-1, but Hawaii quickly responded. In the 78th minute, Laule'a Ah Mook Sang finished the scoring with a fourth goal for Hawaii, assisted by Eve Bleam.
Key Stats:
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Shots:
- HPU: 7 (4 on goal)
- Hawaii: 34 (19 on goal)
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Saves:
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Corner Kicks:
HPU struggled to create consistent offensive opportunities but remained resilient in the face of Hawaii's aggressive attack. The Sharks will look to improve and regroup in their upcoming matches.
