Box Score IRVINE, California – For the second consecutive year, the Hawai'i Hilo women's soccer program will lay claim as Pacific West Conference champions.
The 10th-ranked Vulcans once again activated the thrusters early to out-sprint Concordia University Irvine, 3-1, Thursday afternoon at Eagles Field in the penultimate game of PacWest play to clinch at least a share of the conference title.
Sounding look a broken record as reigning PacWest Player of the Week Teani Arakawa (Makawao, Hawai'i/King Kekaulike HS) continued her hot scoring streak with a seventh-minute goal for her sixth score in the last four matches. Filippa Graneld (Stockholm, Sweden/Stockholms Idrottsgymnasium) placed a through-ball from midfield as the sophomore raced past three CUI defenders and got the shot to go past the keeper for her eighth goal of the season.
Just over 10 minutes later, Graneld got in on the scoring action on a shot from the right side of the penalty area to extend the lead in the 19th minute.
Not to be outdone, Grace VerHage (Otsego, Michigan/Otsego HS) capped the Vulcans' scoring by bending a direct corner kick into the top corner of the goal in the 31st minute as the fifth-year senior moved back into a tie (with Arakawa) for most goals scored on the season.
Jadenn Carrillo got the Golden Eagles on the board with a long-range shot that doinked off the top bar and in for a score in the 38th minute.
CUI upped the pressure with 13 second-half shots, edging Hawai'i Hilo, 17-9, in the final totals (9-4 shots-on-goal), but both squads would be held scoreless to settle the score.
Viviana Poli (Ontario, California/South Hills HS) made her first start in goal this season and played the full 90 minutes with six saves made.
Back to Back
Hawai'i Hilo stands atop the PacWest standings with 23 points (7-0-2 record) with Saturday's regular-season finale against Azusa Pacific remaining.
Both APU and Point Loma Nazarene have three matches remaining and are the only two teams who could potentially finish tied with the Vulcans at the No. 1 spot. In that scenario, each team would get a share of the PacWest Championship as co-champions with tiebreaker rules to determine who gets the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championships West Region.
A win or tie for the Vulcans in Saturday's match against the Cougars would seal the claim for outright conference champs.
2022 PacWest Conference Women's Soccer Championship Standings
| NAME |
POINTS |
REMAINING |
MAX POINTS |
| 1. Hawai'i Hilo (7-0-2) |
23 PTS |
1 Game Left |
3 Possible Pts |
| T2. Chaminade (4-1-3) |
15 PTS |
2 Games Left |
6 Possible Pts |
| T2. Fresno Pacific (5-3-0) |
15 PTS |
2 Games Left |
6 Possible Pts |
| T4. Point Loma Nazarene (4-1-2) |
14 PTS |
3 Games Left |
9 Possible Pts |
| T4. Azusa Pacific (4-1-2) |
14 PTS |
3 Games Left |
9 Possible Pts |
| 5. Concordia University Irvine (4-2-1) |
13 PTS |
3 Games Left |
9 Possible Pts |
What's Next
Hawai'i Hilo improved to 12-0-3 overall, 7-0-2 PacWest while Concordia University Irvine fell to 4-2-1 in the PacWest (9-4-2 overall).
The Vulcans will wrap up their regular season Saturday, Oct. 29 against Azusa Pacific (4-1-2 PacWest, 7-3-4 overall) at 2 p.m. (5 p.m. local Pacific Time).
CUI will return home to host Chaminade on Saturday.
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.
The PacWest Champion will receive an automatic spot in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championships West Region 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 spots open.
Hawai'i Hilo came in at the No. 3 ranking in the latest NCAA Division II West Region Rankings released this past Wednesday.
Point Loma Nazarene was No. 1 with Concordia University Irvine at No. 6.
Western Washington University (11-2-4, 10-1-2 GNAC) held the No. 2 spot.
