UH-Hilo’s Hamada named PacWest Player of the Week for Oct. 10-16

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo men’s soccer freshman defender Koki Hamada of Japan was named the Pacific West Conference’s Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 10-16.

Hamada provided a lot of the offense in a 3-3 draw Oct. 15 against Fresno, Calif.-based Fresno Pacific University. After the Sunbirds built a 2-0 lead, Hamada scored the next two Vulcan scores to draw even at 2-2 — one on a penalty kick and another on a shot just after the second half began.

Hamada has four goals and eight points so far this season, placing him third on the UH-Hilo squad.

Hamada and the Vulcans are one of the surprise teams in the PacWest in 2022. The Vulcans are 2-1-1 in the conference and 3-4-4 overall under first-year coach Garrett Estrin.