UH-Hilo Women’s Soccer Projected to Finish Near Bottom of PacWest

The University of Hawai`i at Hilo women’s soccer team was picked to finish eleventh in the 2013 PacWest Conference Preseason Rankings.

The projections were released as part of the conference’s women’s soccer media day.

UH-Hilo, under first-year Director of Soccer Lance Thompson, was picked by the conference’s coaches to finish ahead of only Holy Names and Chaminade. Last season’s team finished 5-12 with a conference mark of 3-11.

Thompson, however, has no time to worry about meaningless predictions. Hired on Aug. 1, the veteran coach is working feverishly between both men’s and women’s teams to get ready for next month’s season opener.

The women’s team opens play on Sept. 5 against Cal State San Bernardino, Thompson’s last coaching stop. The game will be played on Oahu. So far, he is impressed and is happy about the enthusiasm his players have shown him so far.

“They’re excited. They seem highly motivated. I almost feel like I’ve had to back off and slow things down for them because they are so excited,” said Thompson on Thursday. “I told them that it’s a long season and it’s kinda like a marathon and we want to be playing our best towards the middle to end of October as compared to sprinting out of the gates full force.”

The women’s roster is “pretty set,” according to Thompson. Junior Kristine Pasek, last year’s team leader with eight goals scored, returns to a team that includes six seniors. Two of those seniors, Analysa Rodriguez and Lauren Grace-Finley, played in all 17 matches last season.

Meanwhile, Thompson is working on filling out his coaching staff for both programs. Former UH-Hilo soccer player Gene Okamura is currently helping both teams on a volunteer basis. The entire staff is expected to be finalized within the next few weeks.

2013 PacWest Women’s Soccer Projected Order of Finish (first place votes in parentheses)

1. Cal Baptist (10) – 166 points

2. Azusa Pacific (2) – 153

3. Point Loma Nazarene – 141

4. BYU-Hawai`i (1) – 128

5. Notre Dame de Namur – 102

6. Dominican – 95

7. Dixie State – 90

8. Hawai`i Pacific – 89

9. Fresno Pacific – 77

10. Academy of Art – 58

11. Hawai`i Hilo – 44

12. Holy Names – 25

13. Chaminade – 15

2013 Preseason All-PacWest Women’s Soccer Team

Forward – Beth Barker (Academy of art)

Forward – Lauren Gollnick (Dominican)

Forward – Kelly Jenks (Cal Baptist)

Forward – Jennifer Mason (Dixie State)

Midfielder – Massiel Castellanos (Notre Dame de Namur)

Midfielder – Adrianna Cortes (Notre Dame de Namur)

Midfielder – Hannah Emmett (Academy of Art)

Midfielder – Kasia Goodman (Dixie State)

Midfielder – Bernadette Witz (Cal Baptist)

Defender – Caressa Archie (Fresno Pacific)

Defender – Melissa Laxamana (Cal Baptist)

Defender – Amrun Singh (Notre Dame de Namur)

Goalie – Rosie Nakata (Cal Baptist)

Preseason Player of the Year – Bernadette Witz (Cal Baptist)

Preseason Goalie of the Year – Rosie Nakata (Cal Baltist)