Turns out the international game suits the University of Hawaii at Hilo women’s soccer team well. The trip to Canada certainly did wonders for the Vulcans’ offense.
Kristine Pasek, Taylor Wright and Caroline Stromick scored Tuesday and the Vulcans surged past Simon Fraser 3-1 in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Three of the goals in the match came off corner kicks, and the other was Pasek’s penalty kick, which opened the scoring in the 24th minute.
Just minutes after the Clan (0-2) tied the match, Wright collected Amanda Dominguez’s corner and gave the Vulcans (2-1) a 2-1 lead late in the first half.
Stromick one-timed a corner by Kealakehe graduate Lauren Grace-Finley to provide an insurance goal in the 79th minute.
It was an offensive explosion of sorts for UH-Hilo. In going 10-4-2 last season, it only scored three goals once.
UH-Hilo carried play much the way it did in the second half of Sunday’s 1-0 victory against Simon Fraser, outshooting the Clan 13-3. Ashley Borja-Roese took six shots.
The Vulcans did well to hold an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.
The Clan only put one shot on frame: Kate Pearsall beat Vulcans goalkeeper Jenna Hufford in the 36th minute.
Director of Soccer Lance Thompson got all 18 players on the travel squad into the game.
Simon Fraser 4, UH-Hilo men 2: Jovan Blagojevic scored twice to drop the Vulcans to 0-2.
Four of the goals in the match came on either corner or penalty kicks.
Trailing 3-0 in the second half, Mike Reckmeyer notched the first two goals of his UH-Hilo career. The Oregon State transfer found the net with a bicycle kick in the 72nd minute, and he slotted home a penalty kick in the 79th minute.
The Clan outshot the Vulcans 13-3, including 12-1 in the first half.
Erick Lemus started in goal for UH-Hilo and allowed three scores with four saves.
Joel Malouf opened the scoring by heading in a corner kick for Simon Fraser, and Callum Powell tallied a goal in the 81st minute against Tyler Hoffman.