HILO, Hawai'i – The No. 9 Hawai'i Hilo women's soccer team celebrated Senior Day with a win as it defeated Holy names, 4-0, Tuesday afternoon in Pacific West Conference action
Teani Arakawa (Makawao, Hawai'i/King Kekaulike HS) got the Vulcans on the scoreboard in the 42nd minute with an assist on a cross from the left side by Kayla Kunihisa (Waipahu, Hawai'i/Maryknoll School) as Arakawa was one-on-one seven yards out for the tap-in goal.
Similar to last Saturday's match, the Vulcans had an offensive explosion early in the second half as Daelenn Tokunaga (Waipahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City HS) netted a pair of goals in the 50th and 55th minutes before Nanea Wall (Kealakekua, Hawai'i/Konawaena HS) capped it off with a score in the 61st minute.
Tokunaga now ranks tied for first in the PacWest Conference with nine points in conference play. Grace VerHage (Otsego, Michigan/Otsego HS) is also tied for first along with Concordia University Irvine's Jadenn Carrillo.
Lolo Retsky (Calabasas, California/Sierra Canyon School) posted her sixth shutout in goal to improve to 9-0-2 on the season.
Following the match, Hawai'i Hilo honored its 10 departing seniors: Zariah Nogales (Placentia, California/Mater Dei HS), VerHage, Megan Donovan (Encinitas, California/Del Norte HS), Bailee Brennan (Carlsbad, California/Sage Creek HS), Tokunaga, Wall, Maisie Paulson (Highlands Ranch, Colorado/Mountain Vista HS), Kunihisa, Brende Yoshizumi (Kapolei, Hawai'i/Kamehameha Schools Kapalama) and Jodi Lillie (Mililani, Hawai'i/Mililani HS).
What's Next
Hawai'i Hilo improved to 10-0-2 overall, 5-0-1 PacWest while Holy Names fell to 0-6-0 PacWest (6-8-0 overall).
The Vulcans will conclude the regular season with a four-game road slate in southern California starting Saturday, Oct. 22 against Biola (2-3-0 PacWest, 3-8-1 overall).
The Hawks will return home to host Academy of Art Sunday, Oct. 23.
Postseason Possibilities
The Pacific West Conference does not have a postseason tournament and its champion is dependent on the final results of the regular season.
Currently, Hawai'i Hilo sits atop the standings with a 5-0-1 record and 16 points. Chaminade follows closely with 13 points on a 4-0-1 record as Point Loma Nazarene is right behind at 4-0-0 and 12 points.
The three-way race sets up a key last week and a half of play as both Hawai'i teams will finish out the season with a trip to southern California. PLNU hosts the Vulcans Monday, Oct. 24 and then the Silverswords Thursday, Oct. 27.
The PacWest Champion will receive an automatic spot in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship West Region Tournament consisting of six teams. Champions from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) and California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) will also receive automatic bids, leaving three at-large bids open.
In the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Poll, Hawai'i Hilo is nationally ranked at No. 9 while holding the No. 2 spot in the West Region top 10.
One In the Books
Tuesday's game concluded the 2022 soccer home schedule on the new turf on-campus Vulcan Soccer Field.
The Hawai'i Hilo women's soccer team protected its house as it finished with a 5-0-1 home record, out-scoring opponents 19-1.
Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans Athletics would like to thank everyone for their support of the women's soccer team this season. Mahalo.
