Sept. 12, 2008

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - Behind the first two goals of freshman Angelica Figueroa's (Linden, Calif.) young career, the Pacific women's soccer team earned a hard fought, 2-1, win over Hawai'i on Friday, September 12. The win improved the Tigers overall record to 3-3-0 on the season while the Rainbow Wahine fell to 1-3-1 on the year.

Hosting the Rainbow Wahine in the second game of the Pacific Fall Invitational, the Tigers fell behind Hawai'i early in the second half on a strike from Ambree Ako. Ako put Hawai'i up 1-0 on a goal in the 53rd minute of play after receiving a cross from Taryn Fukuroku who had played her way behind the Tigers' defense on the right side of the field.

Ako's strike was one of just five shots on the night for the Rainbow Wahine as the Tigers held back Hawai'i with an offensive onslaught that included 16 shots, 11 of which came in the second half with nine coming after the opening goal.

With a one goal deficit to work back from, Pacific went on a tear, building up to the first goal of the game for the Tigers that was earned after freshman Laura Hogan (Poway, Calif.) was dragged down inside of the penalty box by a Hawaiian defender. With Hogan earning the Tigers a penalty kick from the spot in the 61st minute, Figueroa made the chance count with her first collegiate goal, slotting her shot past Kori Lu in net for Hawai'i.

After Figueroa's first career goal evened the game at one goal a side, the Tigers mounted an even fiercer attack against their visiting opponents, using the momentum to control the run of play. With Hawai'i attempting to play an offside trap against the Tigers' attacking line, both Figueroa and sophomore Kim Hargrave (La Palma, Calif.) sprung free down the right side of the field after Pacific's midfield played a perfectly timed through ball down the middle of the Hawaiian defense.

Running on to the end of the well timed pass, Figueroa found herself free inside the box, one-on-one with Lu again, except this time during the run of play. With a few dribbles to set up her shot, Figueroa hit a bending ball towards the far left post with the outside of her foot that found its way around Lu and into the back of the net for her second unassisted strike of the night.

With the Tigers' offense supplying the pressure, Pacific's defense was able to hold the Rainbow Wahine at bay, relinquishing just two second half shots. Both Figueroa and senior Laura King (Livermore, Calif.) posted a game-high three shots on the night with King narrowly missing her first goal of the season in the 86th minute, striking the cross bar on a shot that cleared Lu in goal.

Earlier in the day, San Francisco picked up a 1-0 win over Tennessee-Martin in the first game of the tournament.

Pacific will be back in action on Sunday, September 14 at Stagg Memorial Stadium to take on Tennessee-Martin in the final game of the two day tournament. The Tigers game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm following a contest between San Francisco and Hawai'i which is scheduled for 10:00 am.