HILO, Hawai'i – The benchmark was set last year with the Hawai'i Hilo women's soccer team laying claim as Co-Pacific West Conference Champions, and now the target is on their backs.
The Vulcans received two first-place votes to land at the No. 2 spot in the 2022 PacWest Preseason Coaches Poll that was released Wednesday morning.
Point Loma Nazarene was voted No. 1 as it collected the remaining nine first-place votes.
Reigning conference Player of the Year Daelenn Tokunaga (Waipahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City HS) (Waipahu, Hawai'i) and Goalkeeper of the Year Viviana Poli (Ontario, California/South Hills HS) (Covina, Calif.) were tabbed for the same respective preseason honors.
Preseason Defender of the Year went to PLNU's Lauren O'Malley, whom also won the award a season ago.
Vulcans defender Jodi Lillie (Mililani, Hawai'i/Mililani HS) (Mililani, Hawai'i) and forward Filippa Graneld (Stockholm, Sweden/Stockholms Idrottsgymnasium) (Stockholm, Sweden) were also named to the Preseason All-PacWest Team. Graneld was also named 2021 Newcomer of the Year.
Additionally, seventh-year head coach Gene Okamura was selected as 2021 Coach of the Year while midfielder Alyssa Padron (San Pedro, California/Palos Verdes HS) (San Pedro, Calif.) and defender Baille Brennan (Carlsbad, Calif.) earned Second Team and Third Team distinctions, respectively.
UH Hilo begins its season Sept. 1 against Cal State East Bay on O'ahu with the first home game Sept. 17 in a non-conference tilt with Hawai'i Pacific. PacWest season-play is set to start Sept. 26 against Dominican at home.
2022 PacWest Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
| NO. |
SCHOOL |
NO. 1 VOTES |
TOTAL POINTS |
2021 CONFERENCE RECORD |
| 1 |
Point Loma Nazarene |
9 votes |
120 pts |
T-No. 1 (9-1-0) |
| 2 |
Hawai'i Hilo |
2 votes |
113 pts |
T-No. 1 (9-1-0) |
| 3 |
Concordia Irvine |
- |
101 pts |
No. 3 (7-2-1) |
| 4 |
Azusa Pacific |
- |
89 pts |
No. 4 (6-3-1) |
| 5 |
Biola |
- |
69 pts |
No. 5 (5-4-1) |
| 6 |
Dominican |
- |
62 pts |
No. 8 (4-6-0) |
| 7 |
Chaminade |
- |
58 pts |
No. 6 (5-5-0) |
| 8 |
Hawai'i Pacific |
- |
40 pts |
No. 7 (4-5-1) |
| 9 |
Fresno Pacific |
- |
34 pts |
No. 9 (3-7-0) |
| 10 |
Academy of Art |
- |
31 pts |
No. 10 (1-9-0) |
| 11 |
Holy Names |
- |
20 pts |
No. 11 (0-10-0) |
2022 All-PacWest Women's Soccer Preseason Awards
Player of the Year
Daelenn Tokunaga (Waipahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City HS), Fifth-Year Senior, Hawai'i Hilo
Defender of the Year
Lauren O'Malley, Sr, Point Loma Nazarene
Goalkeeper of the Year
Viviana Poli (Ontario, California/South Hills HS), Senior, Hawai'i Hilo
2022 All-PacWest Women's Soccer Preseason Team
| POS |
NAME |
SCHOOL |
YEAR |
2021 All-PacWest Honors |
| GK |
Viviana Poli (Ontario, California/South Hills HS) |
Hawai'i Hilo |
Senior |
Goalkeeper of the Year + First Team |
| GK |
Hailey Asato |
Concordia Irvine |
Senior |
Third Team |
| D |
Lauren O'Malley |
Point Loma Nazarene |
Senior |
Defender of the Year + First Team |
| D |
Jodi Lillie (Mililani, Hawai'i/Mililani HS) |
Hawai'i Hilo |
Fifth Year |
First Team |
| D |
Mackenzie Coleman |
Azusa Pacific |
Junior |
First Team |
| D |
Emma Thrapp |
Point Loma Nazarene |
Sophomore |
First Team |
| F |
Daelenn Tokunaga (Waipahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City HS) |
Hawai'i Hilo |
Fifth Year |
Player of the Year + First Team |
| F |
Jadenn Carrillo |
Concordia Irvine |
Senior |
Second Team |
| F |
Alana Diaz |
Point Loma Nazarene |
Sophomore |
First Team |
| F |
Filippa Graneld (Stockholm, Sweden/Stockholms Idrottsgymnasium) |
Hawai'i Hilo |
Junior |
Newcomer of the Year + First Team |
| MF |
Layla Comeaux |
Concordia Irvine |
Junior |
Second Team |
| MF |
Olivia Ocampo |
Concordia Irvine |
Sophomore |
Freshman of the Year + First Team |
| MF |
Katelyn Penner |
Biola |
Senior |
Second Team |
| MF |
Riley Walkington |
Concordia Irvine |
Senior |
First Team |
