Just less than a year ago, the University of Hawai`i at Hilo women’s soccer team had hope of landing a spot in the NCAA West Regional tournament. Those hopes were dashed following a scoreless tie on the road against Hawai`i Pacific University and a home loss to Brigham Young University-Hawai`i.
Led by All-PacWest Third Team selection Kristine Pasek, the Vulcans’ hope to continue to grow its program under Director of Soccer Lance Thompson and improve on last year’s 10-4-2 overall record.
Coaches around the conference project UH-Hilo to finish seventh this season, behind defending conference champion Azusa Pacific. The Vulcans finished just nine points behind the Cougars in a tie for fourth place with a 7-4-1 conference mark.
“I’m not surprised. I thought we would’ve been a little bit lower,” said Thompson in a radio interview. “Last year was a magical, magical season. It may have been one of the most special seasons of my coaching career on the women’s side. They had so much focus and a drive to compete like no other team I’ve had.”
UH-Hilo hadn’t lost last season until the first three games of its first mainland road trip of the season. In those games against Point Loma Nazarene, Cal Baptist, and Azusa Pacific, three of the top four teams last season, the Vulcans were shut out 11-0. UH-Hilo allowed only four goals the rest of the year.
Eleven seniors return for this year’s squad, including Pasek, who tied for the team lead with four goals and eight points scored. One of those seniors is Caroline Stromick, who, along with junior McKenna Hughes, will be asked to increase their scoring output this year.
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Another key component from last year’s squad is goalkeeper Jenna Hufford, who accumulated nine shutouts in her freshman season last year.
The Vulcans open the season under the lights at the UHH Baseball Stadium against Cal State Los Angeles on Sept. 4 at 7:00 p.m.
2014 PacWest Women’s Soccer Projected Order of Finish
(first place votes listed next to each school, where applicable)
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