Almost halfway through the season, University of Hawai'i women's soccer coach Pinsoom Tenzing joked that yesterday's game could be considered only the team's second.

The Rainbow Wahine defeated Robert Morris, 2-0, at the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Shootout at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

Tenzing said he was able to play his intended starting line-up for the first time this weekend after several players returned from injuries and others passed fitness tests that allowed them to start games.

Senior forward Natasha Kai scored two first-half goals off assists by sophomore defender Shawn Higa as Hawai'i (3-4-2) captured the tournament title with a 1-0-1 record. Butler (4-4-2), which tied Robert Morris, 1-1, in double overtime Saturday in the second night of the round-robin tournament, finished second and Robert Morris (2-5-1) was third.

Kai scored her first goal 1 minute, 37 seconds into the game, the fifth-quickest goal in UH history. Sophomore midfielder Jessica Domingo started the play when she touched the ball to Higa, who dribbled up the field. Higa slotted a ball from a few yards past midfield through Robert Morris defenders to Kai, who sent a low shot under goalkeeper Elizabeth Moss.

"Especially when you score in the beginning of the game, it gives the team more energy," Kai said. "Coach said their keeper wasn't tested (Saturday), so to take as many shots as possible."

Higa said she enjoys the chance to play more of an offensive role, especially against a team like Robert Morris, which she called "static."

"If it is open, I'll take the space," she said. "Today, (the middle) was a free spot."

Kai owns four of UH's five fastest goals, with her quickest eight seconds into the game against Morehead State in 2003.

"We wanted to go with depth with a sweeper, but we went with a flat-back four," Robert Morris coach John Z. Kowalski said. "And they took advantage of that. If we kept it even over a longer period of time, we could have generated more of an attack."

Tenzing said the early goal might have been detrimental to his team's offense.

"Anything successful they'll keep doing it more and more," he said of the team's frequently sending the long ball for Kai to chase down, instead of passing the ball around more.

Kai scored her second goal in the 38th minute on a diving header on a 40-yard free kick by Higa from the right side of the field.

"I beat the defender and knew I couldn't get to it with my feet, so I dove," Kai said.

Her header to the goal in the 77th minute made her the Western Athletic Conference's all-time leader in shots with 369.

The Rainbow Wahine outshot the Colonials, 22-7, and limited them to no shots on goal in the game, recording their third shutout of the season.

Hilary Nellis had the Colonials' best chance to score in the 50th minute, when she ran down a through pass and was one-on-one with Hawai'i goalkeeper Kori Lu. But Lu stopped her with a slide tackle just outside the penalty box. Nellis was in on another good opportunity when she passed the ball to Kathryn Kirkpatrick, who got behind the Hawai'i defense in the 58th minute, but Kirkpatrick's shot went high.

Hawai'i embarks on its second road trip of the season this weekend, playing Cal State Fullerton and San Diego State, before returning home to open its WAC season against Idaho on Oct. 7.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Hawai'i: Gabina Bohlman, MF; Jessica Domingo, MF; Shawn Higa, D; Kori Lu, GK; Koren Takeyama, D. Butler: Meredith Buemi, F; Kristen Harnest, F; Kate Lord, MF. Robert Morris: Jenna Gilbert, D; Christina Pilato, MF; Angela Story, D. MVP: Natasha Kai, Hawai'i.

ROBERT MORRIS (2-5-1) 0 0—0

HAWAI'I (3-4-2) 2 0—2

Goals-UH: Natasha Kai (Shawn Higa) 1:37. Kai (Higa) 37:18. Saves—RMU Jessica Onufer 6, Elizabeth Moss 4. UH—Kori Lu 0.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.