There is an old saying that reads, 'close only counts in horseshoes.' Similar adages read 'in hand grenades' and 'in dancing.'

The 2016 version of men's soccer at Hawaii Hilo heard them all during a season in which they finished 1-14-2, with two overtime losses, two overtime ties and four losses by just one goal. It was a young team with only three seniors and mostly freshmen and sophomores on the pitch.

That was a tough year to work through in your first season as a collegiate head coach, as Gene Okamura was in 2016.

"There were a lot of positives, considering how young and inexperienced we were," Okamura recalled. "I loved that we fought hard and never gave up and we certainly got better. But I don't want to have to go through anything like that again," he laughed.

To help insure that he doesn't, he signed 14 new players to the 2017 team, including seven transfers. Couple that with 12 returnees and you have a team that has a new look.

"It is definitely a new team," Okamura confirmed. "We will have a different philosophy and a different mentality. We will tackle each game one at a time and hopefully surprise some people."

There is nowhere to go but up, if you listen to the Pacific West Conference coaches, who picked the Vulcans to finish in last place.

"The nice part about that is teams will come in here expecting to face a doormat," said Okamura, who also coaches the UH Hilo women's team. "We won't be that. I expect that we will be much improved."

Of the 12 Vulcan returnees, six of them started last year—Jake Sagami, Jonathan Garcia, Jesus Ortega, Trenton Hooper, Omar Machado and Curtis Walker. Kyran Johal started eight matches when he wasn't injured, and the goalkeeper duo of Joshua Jasper and Cassidy Dixon combined for 15 starts.
Dixon, Jasper, Sagami and Johal are seniors.

"That is the backbone of the group," Okamura stated. "They got a lot of quality minutes last year and that is a real positive for us."

The supplement also has Okamura taking a positive front. Many of the transfers will play right away, including Bradley Doyle (Evergreen Valley CC), Fernando Martinez (Rio Hondo College), Xahil McDonald (Humboldt State), Jack Stonehouse (Iowa Lakes CC), Christian Ohly (Jackson College) and Nick Williams (Evergreen Valley CC).
McDonald was a two-year starter as a defender at Humboldt State, while Stonehouse was a two-time all-conference pick with 12 points last year at Iowa Lakes CC. Doyle and Williams were key cogs on a Evergreen Valley team that finished 13-5-4.

Okamura is also encouraged by his freshman class, although they may have to wait their turn to get on to the field. "Sergio Hipolito (Redlands East Valley HS) may see time right away and overall it is a good class," he said. "But they all may have to work their way in."

Okamura will get his first look at his team in game uniforms this coming Labor Day weekend. The Vulcans will be on Oahu, taking on Hawaii Pacific (Saturday) and Chaminade (Monday) in non-conference matches to kick off the season (they will also play the Sharks and Silverswords last in the year in PWC matches). They will then have a lull of two weeks off before embarking on their toughest road trip of the season.

"Those are great tests for us early, and then we get some time to regroup," the second-year coach said. On Sept. 19, Okamura's team will play four matches in a week's span in southern California, a murder's row of sorts. Cal State Los Angeles is the first opponent, a team that is predicted to finish second in the tough California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). That's followed by a Sept. 21 clash at PacWest pre-season favorite California Baptist, a Sept. 23 match at Concordia (forecasted No. 2) followed by a Sept. 26 tilt at always tough Azusa Pacific.

"To say that is a tough start is an understatement," he deadpanned.

The Vulcans will play their first home match on Saturday, Sept. 30 against Academy of Art (7 p.m.).

For the second year, UH Hilo (men and women) will play their home matches at Kamehameha School in Keaau, giving the Vulcans one of the top home venues in the conference. Pai`ea Stadium was dressed up with new artificial turf last spring.

For season ticket information, call (808), 932-7802.