If this shortened season is a hint if things to come, then UH-Hilo’s soccer teams should start preparing for overtimes this fall.
The Vulcans men played to their second consecutive draw Sunday in a scoreless match against Hawaii Pacific, and then the women’s team – surprise! – played to its fourth tie in as many matches at Saint Louis’ field in Honolulu.
The UHH women – or, more specifically, Jodi Lillie – had to rally to avoid a loss. Trailing 2-0 with more than 10 minutes gone in the second half, Lillie netted two goals, including the equalizer with about three minutes remaining in the match.
Per the Pacific West Conference spring rule, no overtimes were played this season.
Even if there were extra sessions, the UHH and HPU men probably never would have scored, not with the way their match shaped up. The Vuls (1-1-2) took just four shots and one on goal.
“Going into the four matches, ideally you would say that you want to improve each match and win each match,” UHH men’s coach Paul Regrutto said. “The reality is that doing both of those things is really challenging to do. If you could win all four games, but not get better, you’d like the results, but it could be a bit short-sighted. We didn’t win all four games, and we didn’t lose all four games.
“What I like about this team is that we got better every single game. Anybody that’s coached sports, knows that that’s a really difficult thing to do.”
Freshman Christian Souza and Michael Harre combined for the shutout for the Vulcans. Souza had two saves in 33 minutes and Harre got his first work of the spring and had a save.
HPU won the pod at 3-0-1. Chaminade was 0-3-1.
“What I’ve seen this year, is a team that’s bought into the process, the process of getting better each day,” Regrutto said. “A team that keeps getting better will eventually be a team that wins a lot. Of course, we want to be a team that wins a lot, and I believe that we’ll get there.”
Before Lillie’s heroics, Hawaii Prep (0-1-3) appeared on track for its first win, getting goals from Jacey Iwane (fourth minute) and Caylie Uyema later in the first half.
Lillie’s first goal came on a header amid a scrum in front of the goalkeeper. The Vulcans took 14 shots, including nine on goal – three apiece by Lillie and Daelenn Tokunaga. The Sharks put just three balls on frame.
At 1-0-3, Chaminade won the pod.