This Week in Vulcan Men's Soccer
Record: 2-7 (1-3 PWC)

Longest, Toughest Road Trip of the Year is Next for Vulcans
Saturday, Oct. 26 @Biola (4-4-3 / 2-0-2 PWC), La Mirada, Calif., 7 p.m. PT
Monday, Oct. 28 @Azusa Pacific (11-0 / 4-0 PWC), Azusa, Calif., 7:30 pm PT
Thursday, Oct. 31 @Point Loma (7-4-1 / 3-1-1 PWC), San Diego, Calif., 3:30 pm PT
Saturday, Nov. 2 @Concordia (5-5 / 3-1 PWC), Irvine, Calif., 2:30 pm PT
 
No Vacation in SoCal: Thousands of people vacation every week in southern California, but UH Hilo's upcoming men's soccer trip to the southland will be no pleasure cruise. The Vulcans will take on three of the top four teams in the Pacific West Conference, playing four matches total during an eight-day period. Additionally, they will play the nation's No. 1 ranked team in Azusa Pacific.
 
Memories of Home: The Vulcans went 1-2 on their recent three-match homestand, but that record could just have easily been 2-1. UH Hilo shutout Notre Dame de Namur (1-0), fell to Dominican (5-1), and then went nearly 99 minutes before falling to Fresno Pacific in overtime, 4-3.

First Timers: The Vulcans scored four goals in their last two matches, with all the scores going down as the first collegiate goals for Henrique Castilho, Robert George, Andrew Rehedul and Kadon Black.

Balanced Attack: The Vulcans have scored 11 goals this season, off the foot or head of nine different players. Jorge Martinez (two penalty kicks) and Pedro Werneck lead with two each. Kalei Tolentino-Perry paces the attempts with 29 total, including 13 on goal.

Honoring Harre: Holding NDNU scoreless helped land Michael Harre with the Pacific West Conference Defender of the Week award last week. He was also named the Vulcans' Pepsi Male Athlete of the Week. His nine saves equaled his career high with UHH, and it was the first shutout for the junior transfer from Maryville University. Harre averages 5.44 saves per match, which ranks 25th in NCAA D-II stats.

Eagle Etchings: The Vulcans will open the road trip at Biola (Al Barbour Field) on Saturday, Oct. 26. The Eagles are unbeaten in conference play (2-0-2) with wins over Dominican and Concordia, and ties to Academy of Art and Holy Names. Biola has the reigning Freshman of the Week in goalkeeper JD Gunn, who had two shutouts last week, and has a 0.93 Goals Against Average. He has five shutouts on the season. Since joining the PacWest, the Eagles have won the last two matches played against the Vulcans, leading all-time 2-0.

Cougar Clatter: You could fill up a whole page of accolades for No. 1 ranked Azusa Pacific. The Vulcans play at APU (Cougar Soccer Complex) on Monday night under the lights. The Cougars have a number of weapons, led offensively by James Ndubueze with nine goals. Goalkeeper Brendan Fix has given up just three goals all season. APU hasn't given up a goal in their last five matches. Their closest test this year came during a double overtime win over Western Washington (2-1). The Vulcans have never beaten the Cougars, with APU leading all-time, 6-0.

Sea Lion Lines: Perennial title contender Point Loma awaits the Vulcans on Oct. 31 (PLNU Soccer Field). David Achaerandio leads the Sea Lion offense with seven goals and veteran goalkeeper Connor McEwen has allowed just three scores in 12 matches. Sitting in second place at 3-1-1 and 7-4-1 overall, two of PLNU's four losses have been to Azusa Pacific. Point Loma is ranked ninth in the west region poll, with impressive non-conference wins over UC San Diego (2-1), Cal State San Marcos (1-0) and Cal State Dominguez Hills (2-1). Point Loma defeated the Vulcans (3-2) last year in Keaau, and they lead the all-time series 4-2-1.

Concordia Clippings: The Vulcans wrap up the long trip on Nov. 2 at Concordia (Eagles Field). The Eagles are 3-1 overall heading into the weekend and will play the other two Hawaii schools before the Vulcans get to Irvine. Concordia had a three-match win streak snapped by No. 1 Azusa Pacific by a scant 1-0 score. The Eagles can score, tallying 21 goals in ten matches. They have scored four or more goals in a contest four times, but have also given up 22 scores on the year. The Vulcans defeated Concordia last year at home (2-1), but the Eagles lead the all-time series, 3-1.

Around the PacWest: First-place Azusa Pacific is still the No. 1 ranked team in the country, the first for the Cougars in school history at the NCAA Division II level. They are 4-0 in the PacWest and 11-0 overall heading into a Saturday match with Hawaii Pacific. Point Loma is next in the PWC standings at 3-1-1, followed by Chaminade (3-1) and Concordia (3-1). The Vulcans are currently tenth (1-3) in the 12-team field. APU is of course also ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer West Region poll, followed by Cal State LA, who is ranked fourth nationally (10-0-1). Here is the rest of top ten….(3) Cal State San Bernardino 8-1-2, (4) Western Washington 7-3-1, (5) Simon Fraser 6-2-1, (6) Cal Poly Pomona 6-4-2, (7) UC San Diego 10-3-0, (8) Chico State 8-4-0, (9) Point Loma 7-4-1, (10) San Francisco State 8-3-0.

Last Year: The Vulcans went 4-12 overall and 3-8 in the Pacific West Conference. They won their season opener against nationally ranked Western Washington and upset Concordia late in the season for their signature wins under first-year coach Paul Regrutto.

The Coach: Paul Regrutto returned to take the reins of the program in 2018, after five successful seasons as the head women's coach at Colorado State-Pueblo. Regrutto was the RMAC Coach of the Year in 2016 after leading the Thunderwolves to their first NCAA tournament appearance. Back in 2006, the Colorado native was UH Hilo's first ever men's soccer coach, leading the squad to a 5-9-1 record.

What's Next: After the southern California trip, the Vulcans will return home for their final three matches of the season. They will face Holy Names on Nov. 11, Academy of Art on Nov. 14 and Senior Day will be on Nov. 16 versus Chaminade.