Hill’s 2OT goal gives UH-Hilo much-needed victory

By soccer director Lance Thompson’s math, the odds favored the UH-Hilo men’s luck taking a turn for the better.

If that didn’t happen when Scott Hill dove to deny BYU-Hawaii a point-blank shot in the first overtime, it certainly occurred when Hill headed in the game-winner in the second overtime.

The Vulcans ended an eight-game losing streak Thursday with a 1-0 victory on their campus baseball field.

“We needed this really bad, that’s for sure,” Hill said. “It was just a matter of how much we wanted it. The losing streak was a big factor.

“We saw some heads go down, but we managed to pick them back up.”

Cristian Ruelas took the corner kick in the 104th minute, and Hill knew where he was going with the ball.

Here is what sweet relief sounds like for the Vulcans: “I knew he likes to whip it first post. Figured I’d go first post, and once he saw me go he made the effort to whip it there,” Hill said.

UH-Hilo (2-9, 1-5 Pacific West Conference) might not have survived the first overtime if Hill hadn’t have dove to deflect a shot in the box from the Seasiders (4-7, 2-4).

“I was just playing the ball,” Hill said.

All too often, Thompson saw his team miss on key chances during the losing streak.

“It was exasperating because we worked so hard,” he said. “The probability of continuing to miss big chances wasn’t good.”

Goalkeeper Cassidy Dixon, a Honokaa High graduate, finished with 10 saves.

Earlier, the Lady Vulcans were shut out 2-0 by the Seasiders (3-6-2, 2-3-1), who got goals from Kate Orchard in the 22nd minute and Rebekah McCarthy in the 43rd.

Looking to get off to a fast start, UH-Hilo (3-4-3, 2-4) lost its third in a row, taking only five shots and finishing with zero corner kicks.

“Disappointed with the lack of energy,” Thompson said. “We were down a little bit but if we come out with more energy that will fix that.”

The Vulcans host Dominican on Saturday. The women’s game is at 12:30 p.m. and the men follow at 3 p.m.