UH Hilo men’s and women’s soccer teams each shut out opponents, 3-0, on Saturday

The men’s and women’s soccer teams of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo each nabbed a big win Saturday afternoon. Both teams shut out their respective opponents from Fresno Pacific University.

The men’s soccer team claimed victory over Fresno Pacific, 3-0, in Pacific West Conference play on Nov. 2 at Vulcan Soccer Field.

Mirai Sato put through the first (42′) and last (67′) scores. Sato made long-range connections with Aidan Santos and Felix Drizinsky, according to a Volcans press release, for assists on each respective goal.

Gen Takahashi put through the middle score after drawing a foul inside the penalty area. Takahashi’s penalty-kick attempt was saved by the Fresno Pacific University keeper but the junior, making his fourth start of the season, cleaned up on the deflection for the 54th-minute goal.

Paul Waschkau made his seventh start in goal but was subbed out in the first half and did not return to the match. Waschkau and Christian Souza combined for five saves to post the Vulcans’ fifth shutout of the season (first combined).

The Hawai’i Hilo men’s soccer team moved to 5-4-1 in the Pacific West Conference (10-5-1 overall) as Fresno Pacific moved to a 5-4-0 conference record (6-5-5 overall).

The No. 21 Hawai’i Hilo women’s soccer team clinched a spot in the inaugural Pacific West Conference Championships when it also defeated Fresno Pacific, 3-0, Saturday at the Vulcan Soccer Field.

Teani Arakawa (8′), Jazlynn Ellis (59′) and Shea Christiansen (63′) did the scoring for the Vulcans in the victory to join Point Loma Nazarene University in occupying two of the four qualifying spots for the conference postseason tournament.

Savina Zamborini, Arakawa and Alyssa Padron were all credited with assists on Hawai’i Hilo’s scores, according to a press release.

“We’ve been putting in the work to put ourselves in the position we want to be to battle for another championship,” ninth-year head coach Gene Okamura said.

The Hawai’i Hilo women’s team moved to a 8-1-1 record in the Pacific West Conference (11-1-3 overall) as Fresno Pacific moved to a 3-5-1 conference record (4-7-3 overall).

Currently, the lady Vulcans hold the top position in the standings with 25 points and just one match to go, but Point Loma Nazarene University (8-1-0) creeps behind with 24 points and still two more contests to be played.