HONOLULU – If Saturday's season opener for the Chaminade University women's soccer team is any indication, there will be a lot of optimism as the year moves forward.
The youthful Silverswords, with 12 total newcomers, faced Dallas Baptist University, the 17th-ranked team in the nation, and went toe-to-toe with them for the full 90 minutes.
Starting three freshmen and four sophomores, the 'Swords held their own before falling in a 2-1 decision at muggy Saint Louis Field.
A perfect header from Delany Schmidt of a corner kick resulted in the first goal of the match, putting DBU up in the 23rd minute.
But Chaminade got the equalizer just three minutes into the second half. A handball in the box against the Patriots resulted in a penalty kick opportunity. Senior defender
Kirstin Wong (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Aliso Niguel) took advantage, firing a low shot past DBU keeper Hope Koym to knot the score. For Chaminade it was its first PK attempt since Sept. 28, 2017, a span of 25 games.
However it didn't take long for the nationally-ranked Patriots to counter. Off a free kick in the 49th minute, Audrey Alderlink got a pass to Summerlynn Heller at the top of the box. Heller then fired a perfectly placed shot over Chaminade freshman goalkeeper
Naomi Takata (Honolulu/Pearl City) which just snuck beneath the crossbar for what would be the game-winner.
The 'Swords did have some chances in the second half.
Cailla Fabro (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Idaho State/Pearl City HS) managed to break away from the defense and went one-on-one with Koym who disengaged from the net and stopped Fabro's shot just inside the box.
They also had several through-balls that just missed being potential breakaways.
Takata made six saves in her collegiate debut. Also getting starts in their first college games were
Kira Nishiki (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani), the sister of former 'Sword
Nicole Nishiki, and
Lindsey Wilson (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani).
Meanwhile Wong made her 22nd consecutive start and, as usual, played the entire game which extended her streak to 2,093 consecutive minutes played.
Koym made two saves for DBU which improved to 3-0-1 on the season.
Chaminade is next in action Thursday, Sept. 26 when they face Hawai'i Pacific University in a non-conference tilt at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium at 4:30 p.m.
