WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Grace VerHage (Otsego, Mich./Otsego HS) scored in both the early and late stages to provide the No. 6 Vulcans with the firepower to take down Hawai'i Pacific, 2-1, Sunday afternoon in Pacific West Conference action at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex Stadium.
VerHage found the back of the net in the fifth minute and later in the 81st minute for the game winner after HPU's Jacey Iwane tied the match with a goal in the 59th minute.
Following an early Vulcans-corner kick that was headed out by the Sharks, Juliet Hufford (Edmonds, Wash./Edmonds-Woodway HS) gathered the remains and batted the ball over the right side to VerHage, who hit from 20 yards out for the score.
The Sharks got the equalizer early in the second half on a corner kick that was deflected around by several HPU players before Iwane managed to find the back of the net.
With under 10 minutes remaining, Hawai'i Hilo took advantage of a lapse in defense by the Sharks as Jodi Lillie (Mililani, Hawai'i/Mililani HS) sent the ball down to a wide-open VerHage as she did the rest to get past the keeper for the open-net game-winning score.
The Hawai'i Hilo women's soccer team remained unbeaten, and for the time being, moved into sole possession of first place in the PacWest standings.
UH Hilo amassed 17 shots (11 on goal) while the Sharks had just three total. VerHage led the charge in totaling six shots, five of them on goal.
Lolo Retsky (Calabasas, Calif./Sierra Canyon School) started at goalkeeper and played the first half with a clean sheet.
For the third consecutive game, Viviana Poli (Ontario, Calif./South Hills HS) subbed in to play the the final 45 minutes and made one save while recording the win for her first of the season.
Hawai'i Pacific goalkeeper Sophia Garrido had a career-high eight saves.
What's Next
Hawai'i Hilo improved to 8-0-2 overall, 3-0-1 PacWest while Hawai'i Pacific fell to 1-1-1 PacWest (2-4-3 overall).
The Vulcans will return to the Big Island for a final two-game home stand against Fresno Pacific (Oct. 15) and Holy Names (Oct. 18).
The Sharks will host the same two teams over the next two weeks.
