Rainbow Wahine get 2 goals from Ako to remain undefeated in WAC

Hawaii's fifth-place ranking in the Western Athletic Conference women's preseason soccer poll has been in the back of Ambree Ako's mind ever since.

"We know we're better than being fifth," Ako said. "It definitely is something we used to motivate us."

Hawaii (9-3-2, 2-0 WAC) took another step in proving the poll to be bogus as Ako scored two goals in the first half to lead the Rainbow Wahine to a 2-1 victory over Fresno State yesterday.

They have won a school-record seven consecutive home matches and haven't been defeated at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium all season. The two league victories have come against the top two teams in that same preseason poll.

"Its been an amazing start," freshman Nicole Mikula said. "We've just been training really hard and you can tell by the outcome."

The Bulldogs (6-6, 1-1) had won their previous four matches against the Rainbow Wahine, but had no answer for Ako. Her two goals gave her a team-leading eight for the season.

"We've just had to finish our opportunities," Ako said. "Our midfielders and defenders have done a great job hitting us with passes."

Nicole Gutierrez put the Bulldogs on top with her team-leading seventh goal of the season in the 11th minute.

The junior forward took a pass from Chelsea Davis and outran the Hawaii defense before slipping a shot past goalkeeper Kori Lu for the score.

The Rainbow Wahine answered with a goal 14 minutes later as Ako scored on a penalty kick to tie it at 1. Mikula drew the penalty that set up the score after she was run over by a Bulldogs defender in the box.

"It got physical out there," Mikula said. "At some point you have to give it back."

Ako's second goal of the game came with 8 minutes left in the first half. She took a pass from Lehua Wood and popped the ball into the air before blasting a right-footed shot into the upper-left corner of the net for a 2-1 lead.

The Bulldogs' best opportunity to tie the game came midway through the second half.

Mikula was hit with a yellow card after a foul away from the ball that gave Fresno State a free kick from just outside the box.

Freshman Stephanie Yoro, an '07 Mililani graduate, took the kick, but Lu made a leaping one-handed save to preserve the lead.

"This was a very physical game and we don't do well in these types of games," Hawaii coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "They got us off of our game a little bit, especially in the second half."

Hawaii hits the road for its next three games beginning next Sunday at San Jose State.

The Rainbow Wahine are 0-3-1 in four road games this season and have been outscored 11-2 in those matches.