KEA`AU--Freshman Madison Gates made her first collegiate goal count for a lot, helping to lead her Hawai`i Vulcans to a 1-0 women's soccer victory over Chaminade on Saturday afternoon at Pai`ea Stadium on the Kamehameha School campus.

The Vulcans improved to 2-1 with the win, which goes down as a non-conference game even though it was against a Pacific West Conference opponent (the two teams will play again on Oct. 6). Chaminade is now 0-3 on the year.

Gates, a 5-0 midfielder from Brea, Calif., took the ball in a one-on-one opportunity, after a terrific clear and assist from Abcde Zoller. Gates booted it past Silverswords keeper Brandee Lane in the 27th minute to put the home team up, 1-0.

That score would stand the test of 90 minutes. UHH senior goalie Jenna Hufford notched her second shutout of the season, saving five shots, including four in the first half. With 12 minutes left in the match, Hufford punched a Silversword shot out of the goal after the ball rattled around in a scrum of players. 

The Vulcans had a couple more good opportunties to add some insurance, including two shots by Jennifer Mendez that had to be saved by Lane. Chaminade's last great effort came with less than two minutes left on the clock when Kelli Fryxell's free kick sailed high.

The match was played evenly in the stat column, with both teams sending five shots towards their opponents goal. UHH had eight shots overall to CUH's seven.

Next up for coach Gene Okamura's team is a three-game road trip to the Bay Area, beginning with a Thursday (Sept. 22) match at Dominican. Start time will be 3:30 PST (12:30 in Hawai`i).