It wasn't an ideal situation, but the Hawai'i Rush 94B Nike squad kick-started the U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regionals by learning an important lesson.

It came in the form of a 4-0 loss to Arsenal FC, which scored three goals in the first 15 minutes yesterday in the boys 14-under division at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Park on the opening day of the Far West Regionals, which features some of the best youth talent in the nation.

"We learned that even though we're losing, don't give up," Hawai'i Rush defender Brayden Prothero said. "I think we're going to do pretty good the next two games. It kind of shows us what we're in for. It lets us know what we'll see the next couple of games."

With no shortage of confidence before the start of the tournament, the Hawai'i Rush ran up against California-South's Arsenal, one of the top clubs from a state loaded with talent.

"We were expecting a technical, methodical attack," said Hawai'i Rush coach Stan Fuller, who said he saw Arsenal play earlier at the Manchester United Premier Cup in Oregon. "This team was a lot quicker than what we expected."

Arsenal earned a tournament spot by winning the Far West Regional League spring championship. The league allows clubs from the Western states to travel and play against one another. Hawai'i teams do not participate because of the cost.

"I was obviously pleased," Arsenal FC coach Phillip Brown said. "With (the Rush) playing in their home state, I knew we would have our hands full.

"We heard they were one of the teams that would be contending (for the title). And we needed to come out and match their intensity."

Instead, it was the Hawai'i Rush who appeared shellshocked.

Arsenal's Erick Suarez started the scoring in the eighth minute on a header. A minute later a goal by Cristian Ruelas on a lofted shot from the right into the upper left corner of the goal made it 2-0.

"Once we got that first goal, we were able to take a deep breath and relax," Brown said.

Cameron Souri scored in the 14th minute and Jake La Porte closed out the scoring in the 34th minute on a 25-yard shot over the goalkeeper.

"When we were down 3-0, I wasn't worried," Fuller said. "I've seen them come back from some major deficits."

Hawai'i Rush forward Dean Gaboya created a scoring opportunity on a great individual effort, when he stole the ball from an Arsenal defender and raced toward the goal for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, who blocked his shot in the 24th minute.

"The goalie read me," Gaboya said. "Before I shot, he moved, and the ball left my foot already."

After a few halftime adjustments, including a change to their midfield formation, the Rush turned it around in the second half.

"We just picked up our heads and it was a new game in the second half," Gaboya said.

Arsenal's Brown said they were content to play more of a defensive game with a 4-0 halftime lead.

"We just really wanted to stay behind the ball," Brown said. "Having the lead, we knew we had some room to be patient. We were able to sit back and let them come at us and play counter-attack soccer."

Rush forward Aaron Goo had a chance off a shot created by a trick free kick. His shot to the lower left side was stopped on a one-handed save by the Arsenal goalkeeper.

"I thought we were going to do much better," Prothero said. "They were skilled and I think we could have done much better strategy-wise. ... We had them the whole second half."