Sept. 4, 2007
WAIPAHU, Hawaii -
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Ambree Ako connected on a penalty kick with 5:18 left in the first overtime for her second goal of the night as Hawai'I defeated Auburn, 2-1, in overtime on Monday night in the OHANA No Ka Oi Championship match.
Ako took the PK after a collision inside the far side of Auburn's box was whistled as a foul on the Tigers.
The two teams played a scoreless first half, though both had ample opportunities to light the scoreboard. Kori Hoelsher had two shots from inside the six for Auburn, the second resulting in a corner, while Caitlin King also ripped a shot into the midsection of Hawai'I goalkeeper Kori Lu.
Auburn (0-1-1) finished the first half with nine shots, with five going on frame. Hawai'I (2-0-0) had six shots, one on goal.
"The girls did a really good job of starting this game at a higher level then Saturday's game," Auburn Head Coach Karen Hoppa said. "Our possession was a lot better in the first half. We got a little bit away from our possession game in the second half, and Hawaii did a good job of taking that away from us. We had some chances but just couldn't finish them all."
Allison Whitworth had kept it a scoreless game in the 53rd minute with her diving save of a Jessica Domingo shot. Auburn then counter-attacked with King putting the finishing touches on the first goal of the game by drawing Lu off her line and slipping a shot past her to the near side at 54:51. Becca Howell had the assist on the goal, her third point of the weekend after scoring on Saturday in Auburn's 1-1 tie with Kansas.
"Caitlin's goal was great. Becca played a well-timed ball and Caitlin did a good job of staying on-side, caught their backs out of shape and her finish was perfect, it couldn't have been any closer to the near post," Hoppa said.
Kara Kasten just missed putting the Tigers up by two in the 60th minute when her shot off of a Howell cross sailed high over the crossbar.
Ako tied the game up for Hawai'I at 70:25 when her shot from the top of the 18 off of a Domingo pass went upper-90 on Whitworth, making it 1-1.
The back-to-back overtimes games to start the season is a first in school history for Auburn.
The Tigers return to Auburn for their next game, playing host to Troy at 7pm CT on Friday, Sept. 7. The first 250 fans into the game will receive a free Auburn stadium seat cushion. Friday is Tigers Unlimited Night, Alumni Night and the start of Parents Weekend. Admission to the game is free.