University of Hawai‘i sophomore Emma Makepa-Foley lifted the Rainbow Wahine women’s soccer team to its 1-0 win over Fresno State yesterday in Boise. The win, coming in the 59th minute from the Kaua‘i High School graduate, made program history in
University of Hawai‘i sophomore Emma Makepa-Foley lifted the Rainbow Wahine women’s soccer team to its 1-0 win over Fresno State yesterday in Boise.
The win, coming in the 59th minute from the Kaua‘i High School graduate, made program history in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship.
According to a University of Hawai‘i press release, this is the first-ever WAC tournament title. In the process, UH locked up its first-ever NCAA Tournament bid.
Makepa-Foley’s goal came on a header off a UH free kick. Nicole Mikula served a ball from the right flank into the box where Makepa-Foley flicked the ball off the left post and into the back of the net, the release states.
With the goal, UH (15-4-2) hung on for the remaining 30 minutes for the win. Fresno State (13-7-1), making its third consecutive appearance in the tournament finals, out-shot Hawai‘i 15-9 for the match, including 11-3 in the second half.
Mari Punzal, a Kamehameha School graduate whose parents live in Kapa‘a, tallied on the Hawai‘i shots.
But Hawai‘i goalkeepers Kori Lu and Nicole McClure combined to make Makepa-Foley’s goal stand for the shutout.
Freshman defender Chelsea Deptula stepped up in the place of Tehane Higa, WAC Defensive Player of the Year, and was named the tournament MVP after helping Hawai‘i pitch its fifth consecutive shutout win, and sixth in the last seven matches.
Higa did not start the match, but played limited minutes due to an injury suffered during Hawai‘i’s 1-0 semifinal win over Utah State yesterday.
Scoring opportunities were presented to both teams before Makepa-Foley’s deciding goal. In the 15th minute, junior forward Taryn Fukuroku hit a volley near the goalmouth, but Fresno State goalie Kaity Revel made a one-handed save.
Fresno State’s best shot came late in the first half on a 35-yard free kick, but Hawai‘i goalkeeper Lu punched Andrea Alires’ shot off the crossbar and over the goal to avert the score.
Hawai‘i continues on in the NCAA Tournament starting Nov. 16. The field of 64 will be announced today at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN News.
Fukuroku was one of five Hawai‘i players to make the All-Tournament team. Joining the forward were Ambree Ako, another forward; Jessica Domingo, midfielder; Koren Takeyama, defender; and defender Deptula.
