HILO, Hawai'i — Megan Donovan matched the Hawai'i Hilo Women's Soccer single-game record of six scored points with a hat-trick and two assists as the sixth-ranked Vulcans opened a scoring barrage on visiting HPU in an 8-1 victory Saturday afternoon in Pacific West Conference action at the Vulcan Soccer Field.
Donovan, a fifth-year senior, doubled her season — and career — goals total to six after having just made her first score three matches prior in a win over Academy of Art. Donovan's points total of six matches Kristine Pasek's similar three-goal, two-assist performance in a 6-2 win over Chaminade 11 years ago in Sept. 2012.
Jazlynn Ellis also netted a hat-trick — with two of her scores assisted by Donovan — while also doubling both her season and career totals to six goals. Both Donovan's and Ellis' outputs are just the seventh and eighth times a Vulcans Women's Soccer player has finished with a hat-trick.
Teani Arakawa added her team-leading ninth goal on the season to open Saturday's scoring in the 17th minute. The preseason PacWest Player of the Year selection further raised her points total to 23 — also team-leading — on an assist on Ellis' first of three goals just two and a half minutes later.
HPU's Carissa Miller broke the Vulcans' 19-0 scoring streak over the last four and a half matches with a goal in the 55th minute. Miller was also the last opposing player to get a score on the Hawai'i Hilo defense in an earlier 3-1 Vulcans victory in a non-conference matchup on Sept. 19.
With the victory, the Vulcans extended their regular-season unbeaten streak to 33 games dating back to Oct. 3, 2021.
PUT A RING ON IT
Following Saturday's doubleheader, the defending back-to-back PacWest Conference Champions were presented their 2022 championship rings. This year's squad features 18 returnees from a season ago that saw the Vulcans go 13-0-3 through the regular season with an 8-0-2 conference record.
Hawai'i Hilo claimed the conference title outright with a 3-1 win over Azusa Pacific last October — a match which featured the Vulcans' most recent hat-trick courtesy Grace VerHage.
Also returning to campus Saturday to receive their rings were Vulcans alums Kayla Kunihisa, Jodi Lillie, Nalani Wall and Brende Yoshizumi.
Mahalo to the Vulcan Booster Club for its support.
UP NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to an 8-0-1 record (4-0-0 Pacific West Conference) while HPU moved to 1-1-2 in the PacWest (1-5-3 overall).
The Vulcans have five remaining home games over the next month before closing the regular season on O'ahu at Chaminade on Nov. 12.
STILL SIX
After two more shut-out victories in Northern California, the Vulcans remained at a No. 6 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Division II Top 25 Week 5 Poll released this past Tuesday, marking the third time in two seasons Hawai'i Hilo came in at the No. 6 slot — the highest ranking achieved in program history.
At time of release of the rankings, Hawai'i Hilo was one of 12 unbeaten teams in the top 25.
The Vulcans also remained at No. 1 in the West Region rankings.
ONLINE TICKETS
Single-game and season tickets are now available to be purchased online through Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans Athletics' recently launched online ticket platform in partnership with AudienceView Campus.
The 2023 slate will feature 15 total home matches at the Vulcan Soccer Field with a package price of $30 for adults and $25 for seniors (ages 65-plus) and middle/high school students.
Both can be accessed at HiloAthletics.com/tickets.
PACWEST HAWAI'I CHALLENGE
In an effort to elevate Hawai'i-based rivalries, the PacWest Hawaii Challenge has awarded the top school in athletics competition among the state's Division II institutions going back to the late 1970s.
Comprising 10 sports that all three schools participate in, points are awarded from head-to-head Pacific West Conference matchups as well as final placements at conference-ending meets and events. At the conclusion of each sport's season, the team with the highest total gets three points while the second-highest gets two and the third-place finisher receives one.
