This Week in Vulcan Women's Soccer
Record: 3-4-3 (2-1-1 PWC)

Road to SoCal is Now for Vulcan Women                                                
Saturday, Oct. 26 @Biola (7-3-1 / 4-0--0 PWC), La Mirada, Calif., 4 p.m. PT
Monday, Oct. 28 @Azusa Pacific (5-5-1 / 1-3-0 PWC), Azusa, Calif., 5 pm PT
Thursday, Oct. 31 @Point Loma (7-4-1 / 4-0-1 PWC), San Diego, Calif., 1 pm PT
Saturday, Nov. 2 @Concordia (5-3-2 / 3-0-1 PWC), Irvine, Calif., 11 am PT
 
Run for the Roses for the Vulcans: UH Hilo's conference title hopes will be on make or break mode next week in southern California. The Vulcans will play four matches in eight days, taking on the top three teams in the Pacific West Conference (Biola, Point Loma, Concordia) and a fourth that is an annual contender (Azusa Pacific).
 
No Crying at Home: The Vulcans won two and tied one during their three-match homestand. UHH had a pair of 2-0 victories (Notre Dame de Namur and Fresno Pacific), and they fought to a 0-0 tie with Dominican. That makes their record 2-1-1 in PacWest play, good for fifth place currently with seven points. Coach Gene Okamura's team hasn't lost in their last five outings, since a double OT verdict versus Hawaii Pacific on Sept. 28.
 
Defending Their Turf: The Vulcans didn't give up a goal in three matches at home, and overall in their last five matches they have given up just one score. On the year in ten matches, only ten goals have been scored against goalkeeper Bailey Cahill and the UHH defense.

Four Letter Words (Names): Opposing coaches are muttering four-letter words, or names, when the Vulcans score. Brenna RILL and Nanea WALL had three goals each for the Vulcans and Wall has an assist to lead the club with seven points. Camille Strazzo, a defender, has two goals, and others with a goal each include Crystal Sanchez, Christy Jensen, Annie Brejc and Brianna Valencia.

Helping Others: Crystal Sanchez has four assists on the year and a goal (six points). Brende Yoshizumi has three assists. Sanchez ranks second in the PacWest in helping her teammates.
 
Saving the Day: Senior keeper Bailey Cahill lists third in the conference in Goals Against Average at 0.814, and she is also third in save percentage (.842) and total saves (48).

Eagle Etchings: Biola has won six matches in a row heading into Saturday's match with UHH (Freedom Field). They lead the PacWest with a 4-0 mark and they are 7-3-1 overall. Their win streak includes an impressive 1-0 road victory over Point Loma. After beginning the season 0-3, the Eagles have since gone 7-0-1. Biola has given up just one goal in conference play, and just six scores in 11 overall matches. Christina Rodriguez mans the goal with a 0.459 GAA, and she has 33 saves (0.892). She ranks ninth in the NCAA in GAA. The Vulcans won last year's match in Keaau (2-0), and the all-time series is tied 1-1.
 
Cougar Clippings: Azusa Pacific is 5-5-1 overall and 1-3 heading into a Saturday match with Hawaii Pacific. The Cougars have dropped back-to-back matches by 2-0 counts to Point Loma and Concordia, and overall have fallen in four of their last five matches. They began the year 4-1-1, which included a narrow 3-2 loss to now No. 2 UC San Diego. The Vulcans defeated the Cougars (2-1) last year at home, but APU leads the all-time series, 3-1-2.
 
Sea Lion Sentences: Point Loma is 4-0-1 in PacWest play. The defending PacWest champions, who went 16-2-1 last year, tied Academy of Art (1-1) in their last outing, snapping a four-match winning streak. Selected as the PacWest Preseason pick to win the conference, the Sea Lions are led by Preseason Player of the Year Julia Glaser and the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year Emma Hinson. Glaser has six goals in nine matches and Hinson has a 1.066 GAA. Point Loma won 1-0 last year in Keaau, and the Sea Lions lead the all-time series against the Vulcans, 7-1.
 
Concordia Comments: The Eagles have won three in a row heading into a Saturday match against Chaminade. They are 5-3-2 overall and 3-0-1 in the PacWest, and haven't lost since Oct. 2 to Biola (1-0). Jadenn Carrillo is one of the top scorers in the conference with six goals in nine matches, and she is second in the PWC in shots with 45. Goalkeeper Kaelyn Whitcomb has a 1.013 GAA with 33 saves. Last year, Concordia snapped UH Hilo's five match win streak with a 2-1 upset in Keaau, and the Vulcans still have yet to defeat the Eagles all-time, 4-0-1.

Around the PacWest: Biola has a slight lead over defending champion Point Loma in the conference standings, 4-0 to 4-0-1. Concordia hasn't lost in PacWest play either (3-0-1). The Vulcans are fifth in the 12-team league (2-1-1). Point Loma and Biola are the only teams currently listed in the NCAA West Region Top 10. (1) UC San Diego 10-0-1, (2) Western Washington 9-2, (3) Sonoma State 10-2, (4) Cal Poly Pomona 8-3, (5) Cal State LA 5-3, (6) Stanislaus State 9-2, (7) Chico State 8-3-1, (8) Point Loma 7-4-1, (9) Seattle Pacific 6-5, (10) Biola 7-3-1.

Last Year: The Vulcans went 10-4-2 overall and 7-3-1 in the Pacific West Conference, finishing tied for second place. They lost 11 seniors off that team and five All-PacWest selections.

The Coach: Gene Okamura is in his fourth season of leading the UH Hilo women's soccer program. A former player that was on the very first UH Hilo men's soccer team in 2006, Okamura also coached the men for two seasons (2016 and 2017), pulling double duty. In three-plus seasons leading the Vulcan women, the Hilo native is now 25-24-10.

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.