The last time that the UH Hilo women's soccer team played a full and normal schedule was in 2019 when they finished fifth in the Pacific West Conference. 

That's where the conference's coaches put them in the 2021 PacWest Preseason Poll, announced today by the league office. Also like in 2019, they selected Vulcan defender Jodi Lillie to the All-PacWest Preseason team.

The Vulcans, with 19 returnees from their spring roster along with ten transfers and four freshmen, will take the field for the first time this coming Thursday on Oahu when they take on Westminster (Utah). They will then plane to northern California to square off against CCAA members Humboldt State (Sunday) and San Francisco State (Tuesday).

UH Hilo is loaded on paper with the delicate mix of veterans and complete newcomers.

"The new players are integrating well with our returnees," said Vulcan head coach Gene Okamura. "Our returners are doing a very good job of integrating the new players into our team and system right away."  
 
The UH Hilo women's soccer team has been known to own a wall-like defense under Okamura. This past spring in four matches, they allowed just 1.25 goals per match. In 2019, they gave up just one score per 90 minutes, and in 2018 when they finished tied for second in the PacWest and just missed an NCAA tournament bid, they allowed a miniscule 0.63 goals per game.

The Vulcans defense will be solid again, led by defender Lillie, who is a three-time All-PacWest honoree. But Okamura is also looking to find the back of the net a bit more, which is where some of his transfers could come into play.

"We always like to be hard nosed defensively," the Hilo native and UH Hilo former player said. "I believe this year we have some goal scoring ability. "We are looking for a nice balance of defending well and putting away goal scoring opportunities."

Nanea Wall had five goals her freshman season in 2019 to lead the Vulcans, and she returns to contribute to the scoring load. Other returning starters that can score include Christina Kanellou, Christy Jensen, Camille Strazzo and Brende Yoshizumi. 

Veterans that will add clout both offensively and defensively include Taylor Hornburg, Piper Collado, Megan Donovan, Alison Bischof, Kayla Kunihisa, Maisie Paulson, and Sophia Dent. Donovan played in 2019 at Division I McNeese State, while Collado, Hornburg, and Kunihisa have played three seasons in a UHH uniform.

The transfer group is where the scoring and defensive options get more intriguing. University of Colorado transfer Filippa Graneld (MF) is expected to make an immediate impact, along with fellow crossovers Alyssa Padron (MF-UC Davis), Saydee Bacdad (GK-Utah Valley State), Jordyn Pacheco (F-Northern Arizona), Nalani Wall (MF-Fresno Pacific), Juliet Hufford (D-Ottawa), Silje Vigeland (F-Mira Costa College), Daelenn Tokunaga (F-Univ. of Hawaii), Bailee Brennan (MF-UC San Diego), Kierstyn Yamamoto (D-California Baptist) and Viviana Poli (GK-Biola). Breeann Andrade (MF-F) played in a pair of matches for the Vulcans last spring after transferring from Providence Christian College.

Three freshmen will also vie for time--Jacelyn Cambra (Hilo/Waiakea HS), Jordan Parrish (Torrance, CA/Bishop Montgomery), and Michelle Alvarez (Redlands East CA), while Tichalynn Barroga (Oahu/Moanalua HS) will redshirt.

Okamura's job is to orchestrate the blend of the veteran and the new. His goal is to also find a way to contend in the 11-member PacWest and against the four southern California teams that are ranked ahead of him in the coaches poll.

The coaches picked two-time defending champion Point Loma to repeat, with Concordia, Azusa Pacific and Biola to follow. The Vulcans are tied for fifth with Dominican, with the rest of the order listed like this--Fresno Pacific, Hawaii Pacific, Academy of Art, Chaminade and Holy Names.

"I think our conference is getting tougher, but I think this group is capable of a lot," Okamura added. "The sky's the limit with this group of players we have this year."

To see the complete PacWest release, click here.