Road trip closes at Idaho State

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FINAL — Hawaii 2, Idaho State 0: Valiant second-half effort for UH, which had to fend off a number of Bengal chances before the Wahine broke through late. Lex Mata recorded eight saves, easily a career best, in the team’s first clean sheet of the season. UH improves to 3-4 going into its alumnae exhibition on Sunday at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

88th minute — Hawaii 2, Idaho State 0: Mikaelah Johnson-Griggs ices the road win off an assist from Furtado. It is the first career goal for the sophomore Johnson-Griggs.

77th minute — Hawaii 1, Idaho State 0: GOAAAAAAAL. Sonest Furtado scores on an assist from Dani Crawford to end UH’s four-game scoreless streak and put the Wahine in a great position to take a road game. UH dodged a bullet at the other end immediately preceding Furtado’s second goal of the season. Interestingly, three of Furtado’s nine career goals have come at ISU.

58th minute — Hawaii 0, Idaho State 0: Lex Mata with seven saves so far, easily her best outing in goal. Still a lot of work to do to preserve a clean sheet, especially if the offense isn’t producing.

HALF — Hawaii 0, Idaho State 0

26th minute — Hawaii 0, Idaho State 0: Raisa Strom-Okimoto attempted a free kick from just outside the box, but it scooted wide right. That was the Wahine’s best look so far as the teams are even on shots, 5-5. None on frame yet for UH, however, to four for ISU.

Idaho State’s live streaming feed is here.

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If there was an opportune time to break out of a slump, today’s Hawaii soccer road game at Idaho State just might be it.

In contrast to an unbeaten Gonzaga team on Sunday — which thumped the Rainbow Wahine 4-0 — ISU has been less than stellar at 1-4. This could be an especially important game, as after this UH returns home for its alumnae exhibition then goes back on the road for its last two nonconference games.

UH (2-4) is attempting to snap a four-game losing streak that has seen it score exactly zero goals.

The Wahine shifted into a more offensive formation to try to change that against GU, with Sonest Furtado at the very top with two more players basically playing forward behind her. Raisa Strom-Okimoto and Kellsie Gleason had a couple of chances there.

The Bengals’ field is about as thin as you’ll find in the NCAA, with thick grass. A smoky haze hung over the field during practice on Monday, UH coach Michele Nagamine said. UH drove there two-plus hours from Salt Lake City to save a considerable sum ($10,000) over flying into Pocatello.

Nagamine said on Monday that Lei Medeiros will miss the game after taking a hit to the head against Gonzaga. Defender Taylor Mason is questionable with a leg ailment.

From UH SID Nick Heidelberger, here was some video of UH warming up before facing the ISU Bengals of the Big Sky.

UH lost 5-4 in its last visit to ISU in 2014. Furtado scored two goals as a freshman.

The game before the game ⚽️🎾#HawaiiWSOC takes on Idaho State at 12 HT. pic.twitter.com/wqMQ1SezOw

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— Hawaii Wahine Soccer (@UHWahineSoccer) September 5, 2017