HONOLULU, Hawai'i – The Hawai'i Hilo women's soccer team will begin its 2022 campaign Thursday, Sept. 1 with a matchup against Cal State East Bay on O'ahu at Chaminade University's Saint Louis Field.
The Vulcans are coming off a shared claim of the conference title as 2021 PacWest Co-Champions and will feature 18 returnees and 12 newcomers.
In the preseason coaches poll released last week, UH Hilo was voted at the No. 2 spot with four players selected to the All-PacWest Preseason Team.
"We're just hoping to execute on everything we worked on the last three weeks," seventh-year head coach Okamura said. "It's the first game so we'll see what our team is made of."
Thursday's game is part of a four-game road slate to start non-conference play. Next week, the Vulcans will have three games in five days before playing at home Sept. 17.
Chaminade University is hosting the match.
SEPT. 1 (10 a.m.): CAL STATE EAST BAY PIONEERS (HONOLULU, HAWAI'I / CHAMINADE)
The Pioneers are coming off an 11-5-5 overall record with a 6-3-2 California Collegiate Athletic Association finish while winning their conference tournament championship.
CSUEB's 2022 season is off to a 1-0-1 start with a 2-2 draw against Northwest Nazarene in the opener and a 1-0 win over Biola.
Freshman Morgan Pearson has provided 66 percent of the Pioneers' offense, scoring a goal in each of their two contests.
Junior Jordan Smith enters her third season in goal having started 39 of 40 matches played. Smith has made 11 saves through the first two games.
Cal State East Bay was voted No. 4 in the CCAA preseason poll with senior defender Jill Nelsen named to the conference watch list.
Robin Hart is in her fifth year as head coach of the Pioneers.
