You can call them the University of Hawai'i's mitey midfielders.

At 5 feet and 5 feet 1, respectively, senior midfielders Kristen Oshiro and Alexis Choi are hardly imposing physical specimens. Yet they have started for the Rainbow Wahine for the past three seasons for a reason.

"They've been workhorses and both of them have tremendous ability to cross the ball," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "When we want to break down the other team's defenses and go around them with combination plays down the flanks, they deliver beautiful crosses we can do some damage with in the penalty box."

After a 2-1-1 road trip, the Rainbow Wahine host Montana tonight and No. 23 UC Santa Barbara Sunday in the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Classic.

"I think me and Choi both have that idea that we don't care, we're used to it already," Oshiro said of their usual size differential. "I think we're both pretty scrappy."

Choi said she's adapted her style of play, using her size to her advantage.

"We can get some elbows in," she said jokingly. "You just have to think faster and play quicker. You try to avoid getting hit because they are so much bigger than you. You know how big we are, we just go flying."

In her career, Choi has contributed seven assists and two goals. Oshiro has five assists with two goals.

Both are former walk-ons who received "almost zilch playing time," as freshmen, Tenzing said, yet had the tenacity to come back the next year and earn starting roles, with Oshiro on the right and Choi on the left.

"They could have easily been disheartened but they stuck with it and worked and worked and worked," Tenzing said. "They've been such a profound examples for everybody because they worked their derrieres off trying to get on the team, and having done so, kept all competitors at bay. Those are absolutely gratifying things for a coach to see; that the kids try so hard."

Tenzing characterized Choi as "gentle. Not only with me and her teammates, but the opposition. But she plays really hard.

"(Oshiro) is also a lovely kid, but she's very feisty. She won't back away, regardless of size."

Oshiro agreed: "I think Choi is nicer than me."

Choi played for Mililani High but sat out her freshman year. She decided she missed the camaraderie and game, so came out in the spring of 2005.

Oshiro is from San Diego, but has family in Hawai'i who attend her games. They leave every game shouting out to her, "What's the 'O' for?" and she responds, "Oshiro!"

Having two players in starting roles the past three seasons gives the Rainbow Wahine the luxury of knowing what to expect from their outside midfielders.

"There are no surprises," Tenzing said. "They aren't the biggest, but they are always trying to do the right thing according to how we play. They are very bright kids who know what to do."