(photo courtesy of Joe Poellot/UHH)

HILO, Hawai'i-- The UH Hilo women's soccer team played on their home turf for the first time of the season in their PacWest Conference opener against Azusa Pacific. The Vulcans played hard, but were ultimately unable to make their way past the Cougars' defense, resulting in a 0-1 loss to Azusa Pacific. 
 
APU will improve 6-2-0 overall and take their first conference win 1-0, while UHH falls to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in conference. 
 
The intensity was high when both teams entered halftime locked, 0-0. The first half was a battle between the two defenses as there were only five combined shots taken and each team had one corner kick apiece. 
 
It was APU who managed to break the ice first. Three minutes into the first half the Cougars managed to penetrate the Vulcans' goal with a shot to the lower right by APU's Randi Macadangdang. And as it would turn out, that goal would end up being the decision factor of the match.  
 
The Vulcans played hard to the very last minute, but had no dice. Alyssa Padron led the team with two shots, followed by Maisie Paulson and Christy Jenson with one apiece. The Red and Black's Viviana Poli had three saves. 
 
The women's soccer team will play next on the road against Holy Names. The match is set for Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. PT in Oakland, Calif. 
 
To view the women's schedule, CLICK HERE.