BOX SCORE
RENO, Nev. Sophomore Miranda Montejo (Riverside, Calif.) scored the game-winning goal for Nevada in the second minute of the match as the Pack recorded a 5-0 win over Hawaii at Mackay Stadium Friday night. Nevada (10-4-3, 3-2-1 WAC) recorded its ninth shutout of the season, setting a new team record for shutouts in a season. The Pack’s win over Hawaii also marks the first time in program history Nevada has beaten Hawaii (8-9-2, 2-4 WAC).
Montejo scored just two minutes into the game off an assist from sophomore Samantha Miller (Riverside, Calif.). Miller played the ball over the Rainbow Wahine defense and Montejo chipped the ball over Hawaii keeper Kori Lu. Senior Aivi Luik (Gold Coast, Australia) put Nevada up 2-0 when she scored in the third minute. Miller played the ball to Luik who beat three defenders and Lu to score her first goal of the game. Luik scored her second goal in the 28th minute off an assist from sophomore Jessica Thompson (Ogden, Utah). Freshman Devin Noe (Simi Valley, Calif.) started the play by crossing the ball from the right side to Thompson on the left. Thompson took the ball to the corner and hit a cross that found Luik who hit a volley past Lu.
Sophomore Karen Zmirak (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) increased the Pack’s lead to 4-0 in the 85th minute when she scored her team-leading 11th goal of the season. Junior Kenishia Warren (Terrigal, New South Wales, Australia) took the ball to the endline, cut it back and hit a cross that found Zmirak who buried her left-footed shot into the corner of the goal. Zmirak then returned the favor as her free kick from 40 yards out found Warren who scored Nevada’s fifth and final goal of the night.
With her three points against Hawaii, Zmirak set a school record for most points in a season with 26, breaking the record of 23 set last season by Montejo.
“This was a first-class performance by the entire team,” said Nevada head coach Terri Patraw. “This was a much deserved win for our team who has been playing at such a high level during conference play this season.”
Nevada outshot Hawaii 21-4 including an 11-1 advantage in shots on goal. The Pack held the Rainbow Wahine without a shot until the 60th minute of the game. Montejo led Nevada with five shots while four Hawaii players each recorded one.
Nevada goalie Caitlin Holmes (Las Flores, Calif.) recorded her fifth shutout of the season and made one save in the win. Lu played 80 minutes for Hawaii, recorded five saves and allowed three goals. Brittany Aiwhohi played 10 minutes and allowed two goals while making one save.
The Pack will face San Jose State at Mackay Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. The match will mark the final regular-season home game for Nevada’s five seniors, Naomi Hernandez, Terran Hadlock, Lauren Kinneman, Kristin Anderson and Luik.
