WAIPAHU, Hawai`i--Host Hawai`i Pacific broke open a tight match with three second half goals to defeat visiting Hawai`i Hilo 4-1 in a non-conference men's soccer match at the Waipio Soccer Complex.
The Sharks improved to 2-2 on the season, while the Vulcans dropped to 1-3. The two teams will meet later this season (October 20) on the Big Island for a Pacific West Conference bout.
On a hot afternoon (91 degrees), the Sharks outlasted their rivals in a fiesty match that saw 32 total fouls called and four yellow cards issued. HPU scored once in the first half and three more times after intermission to account for the final tally.
The first half was played like a defensive chess match, with neither team hardly getting a shot off in the early going. Finally, with just two minutes left before the break, a foul was called on the Vulcans in the box, setting up a penalty kick for Jair Espinoza, who flicked the easy shot into the left corner of the net to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. After 45 minutes, HPU had just six shots while UH Hilo had one.
The action then picked up almost immediately in the second half. Just a little over four minutes in, UH Hilo's
Pedro Werneck worked his way into the front of the net, firing a shot at Shark keeper Chandler Schur. The shot bounced off Schur and right back to Werneck, who then pushed the ball into an empty net to tie the match at 1-1.
But that Vulcan joy lasted just 16 seconds, as the Sharks quickly countered. Reece Montgomery took a crossing pass and bounced it past UH Hilo goalkeeper
Nick Williams to give the lead back to the Sharks, 2-1. Williams would stay busy all afternoon, finishing with ten saves, but HPU managed two more insurance goals--one in the 68th minute by Makana Srivognsana and another in the 85th minute by Kyle Rivers.
The final numbers showed Hawai`i Pacific with 21 total shots, including 14 on goal. The Vulcans had four shots, three of them on goal.
The Vulcans will remain on Oahu, taking on Chaminade on Saturday in their first PacWest match of the season.
