Nothing like a lot of scoring to begin the quest for the conference title.

The University of Hawai'i women's soccer team scored two goals in each half and blanked Idaho, 4-0, in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams last night at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium in front of 815 fans.

Hawai'i (4-6-2, 1-0-0 WAC) continues conference play against Boise State (7-4-2, 1-0-0) tomorrow at 5 p.m.

Senior forward Natasha Kai scored her team-leading seventh and eighth goals and added an assist to lead the Rainbow Wahine.

"Scoring goals and winning the first conference game is always good, especially because we're playing Boise State, who came off a big win (a 2-1 overtime win against San Jose State)," Kai said.

She scored her first goal in the 29th minute after she chased down a chipped pass from sophomore midfielder Jessica Domingo and slotted a low shot into the right side netting.

Her second goal was off a through pass from the right side from junior forward/midfielder Adria Campbell in the 35th minute. Kai shot the ball over a diving Lindsay Smith, Idaho's goalkeeper.

Junior midfielder Kelly McCloskey scored the third goal in the 52nd minute, when she one-timed a volley off a header from Kai, who outjumped an Idaho defender and found McCloskey who was waiting just inside the left side of the penalty box.

"I was open and she had two defenders on her, so I called for the ball," McCloskey said. "I knew I had to do it one touch because I didn't have enough time. Two girls were coming at me."

Freshman forward Taryn Fukuroku scored her first collegiate goal in the 69th minute off a lofted pass from Campbell, who sent the ball over the Idaho defense for Fukuroku to run on to. Fukuroku shot the ball under Smith into the goal.

"It was pretty exciting," she said. "I was all by myself. (Campbell's pass) was a perfect ball, it was right where it needed to be; it was money."

Idaho (2-10-0, 0-1-0), in its first season in the WAC, recorded the game's first shot on goal, but little else went its way. Hawai'i, the preseason pick to win the WAC, outshot Idaho 19-3.

"It was a good way to start (the conference)," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "We didn't start well, it was sloppy. I think we took them too lightly. We settled down after the first goal."

Tenzing said he found the high goal count "scary," because of the possible letdown for tomorrow's game against the Broncos.

"I hope they remember the good things we did (last night), against Boise State," he said.

Freshman goalkeeper Kori Lu and senior Mahie Atay combined to record Hawai'i's fourth shutout of the season.

"They just took their chances well," Idaho coach Pete Showler said. "We created chances in the first half, but didn't finish them, and that's the difference at this level.

"Credit Pinsoom. He has them playing well at the right time."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.