University of Hawaii at Hilo director of soccer Lance Thompson has come to expect these types of efforts from his goalkeeper. Tyler Hoffman has become the constant.
The variable is the Vulcans’ offense, but that wasn’t a problem Thursday thanks to a pair of goals off restarts.
James Yamane and Darwin Ortiz each took advantage of corner kicks to notch their first goals of the season, and the Vulcans stopped Holy Names 2-0 in Hayward, Calif.
“Holy Names is actually a very good attacking team,” Thompson said. “We weren’t too focused on possessing the ball.”
Ortiz assisted on a goal by Yamane, a Waiakea graduate, in the seventh minute, and then Ortiz scored in the second half off of Cristian Ruelas’ corner kick.
Hoffman made eight saves as the Vulcans (6-7-1) evened their Pacific West Conference mark at 4-4.
The Hawks (4-10-0, 2-6-0) held an 18-13 edge in shots.
“It was more of the same for Tyler,” Thompson said. “He’s been pretty consistent.
“The key is he’s done well, and so have the eight in front of him.”
If Thompson sounded fit to be tied after the men’s and women’s matches, it was for a good reason. Taking on the winless Hawks, the Lady Vulcans played to their sixth draw of the season, 1-1.
Thompson said the Vulcans (5-3-6, 2-2-4) played uphill after Rebecca Viha scored for Holy Names (0-11-1, 0-8-1) in the fourth minute.
“We made a tactical change and played with four forwards the last 60 minutes of the game,” Thompson said. “We were just throwing people up.”
The move paid off when Alexandra Marin, who’s usually a fullback, knotted the match in the 60th minute.
The Vulcans outshot Holy Names 21-13, putting 10 shots on frame.
“Another tie,” Thompson said.
Playing in place of injured goalkeeper Jenna Hufford, Kayla Clarke made three saves.
Golf
The University of Hawaii at Hilo women shot a 53-over 341 and finished last (148-over 1,012) at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Wahiawa, Oahu.
Freshman Andi Igawa (85) led the Vulcans at 36-over, tying for 75th.
Erin Costes (91) and Shannon Abarra (82) were another two shots backs, Alison Tengan (89) was at 43-over and Mariah Paiste (85) came in at 53-over.
Vanderbilt won the team title at 2-under, while the Commodores’ Cindy Ha took medalist honors at 6-under.