The UH-Hilo women’s soccer team started six freshmen Thursday, and four more made their way to the scorers table and played as reserves, each eager to see their first stint of college soccer.
The UH-Hilo women’s soccer team started six freshmen Thursday, and four more made their way to the scorers table and played as reserves, each eager to see their first stint of college soccer.
The Vulcans might be hitting the reset button in 2015, but the early returns hearkened back to last season, and that’s just fine with soccer director Lance Thompson.
Junior goalkeeper Jenna Hufford, now a chiseled veteran, made 18 saves for her 14th career shutout, and the Vulcans held Simon Fraser to a scoreless draw in their season-opener at the campus baseball field.
“It was so much fun,” Hufford said of her busy day. “I love it.
“No goals, and that was what we were aiming for.”
Considering the field appeared slanted in Simon Fraser’s favor for much of second half and both overtimes, Thompson classified the result as a “good” draw. He would know – the Vulcans played to six draws last season, and he wasn’t about to feel exasperated with such a freshman-laden roster.
“I’m always trying to pump them up and keep them motivated,” Hufford said.
UH-Hilo beat the Clan (1-0-1) of Vancouver, British Columbia, twice last season, but for much of this match the Vulcans hunkered down and relied on Hufford to gobble up shots.
“I think they had us on our heels a bit,” Thompson said. “It can go one of two ways. You either feel good about (a draw), which we do. They were the better team, and they probably don’t feel so good about it.”
Indeed, Simon Fraser held a 24-4 advantage in shots and coach Annie Hamel lamented all of her team’s missed opportunities.
Vulcans freshman Danika Steele flashed in the first half and was her team’s most active striker. Steele hit the post with a shot from about 15 yards away in what would turn out to be UH-Hilo’s best scoring chance, and she had a one-on-one opportunity in which she sent a shot high.
Among the true freshman to play in the match was Waiakea graduate Tiani Teanio. Another former Warrior, Sabrina Scott, was held out as she nurses a leg injury.
“I wanted to see if they could compete and they had to today,” Thompson said. “This is just the first step of many and they still have four years to go.”
The third-year coach was hoping for sunny and hot conditions to welcome the neighbors from the north, and he got his wish in the first half. It turned windy and overcast in the second half and it rained during the overtimes. All the while, Hufford remained stingy.
She stonewalled a partial breakaway during the first 45 minutes, and her best save of the overtimes came when she dove to reject Sierra Leung’s chip attempt.
Largely because of her, many of the Vulcans can say they didn’t allow a goal in their first college game.
“One of my busiest shutouts,” Hufford said. “A lot of shots on goal, but our defense stayed strong throughout the game.
“We just have to finish and score some goals and we’re going to be great this season.”