UH-Hilo soccer director Lance Thompson has one cardinal rule for his teams: don’t beat yourself.
UH-Hilo soccer director Lance Thompson has one cardinal rule for his teams: don’t beat yourself.
The Lady Vulcans not only did that Monday, but they did it by design.
Trying to send a message, Thompson held several players out and kept a short bench against Fresno Pacific. After a fast start, UH-Hilo eventually wilted, allowing the equalizer with less than five minutes remaining in regulation and an own goal in overtime, losing 3-2 at the campus baseball field.
“Unfortunately, we did beat ourselves off the field,” said Thompson, who didn’t discuss specifics. “I think they got the message.
“For us to be in the game was a miracle.”
The Vulcans (2-1-2, 1-1-0 Pacific West Conference) used only two substitutes, and goalkeeper Kailah Buchanan was forced to enter the game and play forward. Making matters worse, freshman Leighana Weaver left the match with a red card in the 85th minute, and the Sunbirds (4-2-0, 2-0-0) tied it less than 60 seconds later on a goal by Rachelle Schiller, who entered the match as a substitute.
“I was very proud of the girls who did play,” Thompson said.
Early on, it looked like he was going to get away with his strategy. Abcde Zoller scored for the second consecutive match and Skyla Wilson gave UH-Hilo a 2-0 lead early in the second half.
But with a chance to add to the lead, Nicole Rascon, a Fresno, Calif., native, sent a penalty kick wide, and the Sunbirds continued to put on pressure, holding a 30-9 advantage in shots.
Playing in place of injured goalkeeper Jenna Hufford, Kayla Clarke made 14 saves for UH-Hilo. Kayela Santiago and Weaver had assists.
“Throw this game out the window,” Thompson said. “We handicapped ourselves because our depth is great.”
While his women’s team was shorthanded, the men’s team was overmatched.
Jorge Chedraui scored a hat trick during an 11-minute span in first half to guide Fresno Pacific to a 3-1 victory. Chedraui has tallied eight goals in seven games, while the Vulcans (1-5, 0-2 PacWest) have just five goals total on the season.
“Bigger, faster, stronger, more technically sound,” Thompson said of the Sunbirds (5-1-1, 2-0). “The best team we’ve played all season.”
Jamie Sporcic opened the scoring with his first goal of the season for the Vulcans, but the lead was a distant memory after Chedraui’s spurt.
UH-Hilo’s Alejandro Patino was robbed off goal in the second by sliding Sunbirds goalkeeper Alex Guillen.
“Jorge is arguably the best player in the league,” Thompson said. “No surprise. he’s big-time.”
Both Vulcans squad will try to bounce back when they host BYU-Hawaii on Saturday