The style of play University of Hawai'i women's soccer coach Pinsoom Tenzing has been talking about since the preseason finally emerged at home last night.

With an emphasis on defense and the midfield, Hawai'i played Butler to a 1-1 double overtime tie at the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Shootout last night at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

"That's as beautifully as we can play," Tenzing said. "We controlled the middle, and as a consequence, the outsides opened up. It was a very beautiful game. We were first to the ball every time.

"We need to get the offense organized. Adria (Campbell) and Natasha (Kai) are playing together up top for virtually the first time," Tenzing said.

Hawai'i (2-4-2), which possessed the ball in the midfield and received offensive contributions from its defenders, concludes the tournament against Robert Morris (2-4-0) tomorrow at 5 p.m. Butler (4-4-1) and Robert Morris play today at 5 p.m.

Sophomore midfielder Gabrielle Bohlman scored her first goal of the season in the 29th minute off assists by junior midfielder Kelly McCloskey and Kai, a senior forward, in front of 650 fans.

McCloskey received a pass from sophomore midfielder Jessica Domingo, and from the left side of the field crossed the ball to Kai, who was waiting near the far post. Kai dropped the ball to Bohlman, who was running into the 18-yard box and shot the ball into the lower left side of the goal.

"When I saw (Kai) get the ball, I could see the opening," Bohlman said. "She laid the perfect ball for me. I was a little nervous I would screw up."

Kai said she saw several teammates running up the field, "and I had no angle and (Bohlman) called for the ball, so I slotted it to her."

Just 1 minute, 10 seconds earlier, Butler scored on a goal by midfielder Kristin Harnest, who received a flicked pass from midfielder Ashley Twehues that split two UH defenders and left Harnest open on the left side.

"It was a crazy game, the first time this year we gave up a quick goal," Butler coach Woody Sherwood said.

Butler's goal came on a rare mistake by the Rainbow Wahine, who were dominating and possessing the ball most of the first half. Defenders Lehua Wood and Koren Takeyama provided a burst running up the sidelines and distributing passes, which Tenzing had been promising since August.

With Domingo and Bohlman back in the line-up full time for the first time since injuring their knees in the first game of the season, the Rainbow Wahine appeared more comfortable passing the ball around in the midfield.

"It feels good, it feels very natural with her," Bohlman said of Domingo. "Our defense is doing a really awesome job with attacking from the back."

Hawai'i outshot Butler 9-2 in the first half, with a 20-7 advantage for the game. Hawai'i suffered a setback when Campbell went down with a left ankle sprain in the first half.

"I felt we dominated, unfortunately we only got one goal," Kai said. "We could have won 5- or 6-0.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.