Teani Arakawa accounted for nearly half of the Vulcans' goals last week with three scores to earn PacWest Player of the Week as announced Monday morning.
In a 4-0 win over Holy Names on Oct. 18, Arakawa got Hawai'i Hilo on the scoreboard in the 42nd minute followed by netting a pair of goals last Saturday in a 3-0 victory against Biola. She also assisted on the third goal against Hawks, totaling seven points for the entire week.
"Staying on my mark, making runs, flanking the center back — pretty much just trying to work together, making plays and scoring," Arakawa said of her focus heading into games last week.
The sophomore ranks fourth on the team in points and is tied with two other Vulcans for second-most goals on the season.
Last week broke a seven-game span of having gone without a goal or an assist since last finding the back of the net against Regis in mid-September.
"I was pretty bummed on not scoring, but even if I didn't, I was so happy for everybody else that was scoring," Arakawa said. "I guess my time is finally happening of me scoring again so I'm pretty happy about that."
Return Home
A 2021 graduate out of King Kekaulike High School on Maui, Arakawa had her senior season cut due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that didn't stop her from racking up the accolades with three state player of the year honors and two league player of the year accolades highlighted by being inducted into the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Hall of Honor.
She accepted a scholarship to play at Division-I South Dakota State University where she started nine of 22 games played in to help the Jackrabbits to The Summit League Tournament title while being selected to the All-Summit League Second Team and Summit League All-Newcomer Team.
Before landing in South Dakota, Hawai'i Hilo was the only other school Arakawa had contemplated choosing.
"Things were pretty good during season, but I think it was just the idea of being far from home and the time difference being hard," Arakawa said. "That's what made me want to transfer closer to home."
Arakawa's older sister Tiera had also played for the Vulcans soccer team from 2015-18 as a four-year starter.
"I just wanted to try for the experience," Arakawa said. "Now that I'm in my home area, I'm much happier. I get to see family more often. It's better being home."
PacWest Team of the Week
Outscoring Holy Names and Biola last week by a total tally of 7-0, the No. 9 nationally-ranked squad improved to 11-0-2 on the season and to 6-0-1 in the PacWest.
Daelenn Tokunaga scored twice against the Hawks, and also scored the first goal of the match against Biola, less than two minutes into the fray.
The victory against Biola gave head coach Gene Okamura his 50th career win, and also continued momentum for a team that will finish the regular season this week at Point Loma (Monday), Concordia (Thursday) and Azusa Pacific (Saturday).
On the entire season, the Vulcans have outscored their opponents 35-4.
