HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's soccer team returned to the pitch for the first time in 16 days and hoping for their second straight victory before conference play opens next week.
Instead their crosstown rivals, Hawai'i Pacific University, scored the game's final two goals to give the Sharks a 3-2 overtime win Saturday at Saint Louis Field.
HPU's Cheyenne Smith scored the winner two minutes into the first overtime to complete the come-from-behind win after a corner kick caromed off several Chaminade defenders.
University of Hawai'i-Manoa transfer
Randi Fontes (Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) scored her first two collegiate goals including at the 70th minute to put the Silverswords ahead. Fontes is the fourth player in program history to record a multi-goal game.
The Sharks picked up their first win of the season (1-2-1) while the 'Swords fell to 1-1 in the non-conference contest.
Fontes put Chaminade on the board in the sixth minute on her breakaway goal after stealing the ball near midfield, the fifth-fastest goal to start a game in program history.
It remained 1-0 Silverswords until the 69th minute when Tehani Furuta tied it with her third goal of the year. But it took Chaminade just 16 seconds to counter, advancing the ball down the right sideline where Fontes had slipped past the defense. The sophomore attacked the goal while HPU goalkeeper Marissa Froio abandoned the net to challenge her but Fontes fired a shot over Froio and into the net to put the 'Swords up 2-1.
Then with just 1:50 remaining, the Silverswords were called for a penalty in the box on a breakaway, leading Furuta's successful penalty kick, knotting the game at 2 which helped swing momentum back to the visitors and eventually leading to Smith's winner.
Froio made four saves to pick up the win.
Brandee Lane (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Castle) made five stops for Chaminade.
The 'Swords defenders of
Bianca Gonzales (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kapolei),
Dayna Nishimura (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) and
Kirstin Wong (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Aliso Niguel) each played all 93 minutes in helping to keep the Sharks in check for much of the match.
Despite being held to just one shot in the first half, the 'Swords became the aggressors in the second 45-minute session, taking 14 second-half shots. Fontes took five, four on-goal.
Asya Asato-Kahele (Honolulu/Roosevelt) and
Caitlin Tatemichi (Honolulu/Roosevelt) each took three.
The 'Swords also played without several starters and reserves who played key roles in the season-opening victory over Antelope Valley on Aug. 30.
Fortunately for the Silverswords the match did not count in the Pacific West Conference standings. The two teams will meet again in the lone conference match on Nov. 3 at the Waipio Soccer Complex.
Chaminade opens PacWest action Thursday when they face Azusa Pacific at Saint Louis Field. Kickoff is set 30 minutes after the men's match.
