HILO, Hawai'i – After eight departures from a season ago, the Hawai'i Hilo Men's Soccer team has nearly doubled the size of its remaining roster with the addition of 14 newcomers, bringing in five freshmen and nine transfers for the upcoming fall.
Of the nine transfers, three are coming in from two-year schools, one from a Division-I program, one from a NAIA school and four from fellow Division-II teams.
"This is an exciting group of players: very talented, dynamic and athletic," Hawai'i Hilo assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Terry Yamane said. "Our biggest improvements will be in our creativity and overall team speed. We look forward to showcasing our 2023 Vulcans to our community."
The incoming Vulcans will be arriving to the Big Island from Maui (1), California (7), Utah (1), North Carolina (1), Florida (1), Iceland (1) and Japan (2) with first official practices set to start Monday, Aug. 14.
The Hawai'i Hilo Men's Soccer team had five student-athletes graduate this past school year.
FWD | 6'1 | Fr. | Pinehurst, NC | Pinecrest HS
» Enrolled in spring 2023 after sitting out the 2022 season due to injury
» 2022 graduate of Pinecrest High School (North Carolina)
» Played two seasons of varsity soccer for coach Jeremy Blake
» Played club for Wake FC, NC Fusion, AC Sandhills
Intended Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "To challenge myself with a new location."
DEF | 5'7 | Fr. | Kahului, HI | King Kekaulike HS
» 2023 graduate of King Kekaulike High School (Hawai'i)
» Played three seasons of varsity soccer for coaches Tye Perdido, Aaron Hamamura, Ryan Arakawa and Barry McKay
» Played club for ALBION SC Hawai'i
Intended Major: Liberal Studies
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "It is close to home. I would travel during the summer for tournaments and that's where I met assistant coach for the soccer team and we made it possible for me to come play for him."
DEF | 6'3 | Fr. | Temecula, CA | Chaparral HS
» 2022 graduate of Chaparral High School (California)
» Played one season of varsity soccer for coach AJ Covarubios
» Played club for Arsenal USSDA, LA Galaxy USSDA, Murrieta Soccer Academy MLS NEXT
Intended Major: Marine Science
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "For the family aspect and the warmth I felt speaking to coaches and the players. I come from a very family-oriented household and been through a lot, so coming to Hilo made me feel at home."
FWD | 5'11 | Fr. | Clearwater, FL | Palm Harbor University HS
» 2023 graduate of Palm Harbord University High School (Florida)
» Played one season of varsity soccer for coach Huse
» Played club for Chargers MLS and Florida Premier ECNL
Intended Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
FWD/DEF | 5'11 | Fr. | San Diego, CA | Eastlake HS
» 2023 graduate of Eastlake High School (California)
» Played four seasons of varsity soccer for coach Gio Medina
» Played club for San Diego Surf
Intended Major: Undeclared
DEF | 5'11 | So. | Akureyri, ICE | Menntaskolinn a Akureyri / Western Illinois
» Spent first year at Western Illinois University
» Played in all 16 games with 10 starts for the Leathernecks
» 2020 graduate of Menntaskolinn a Akureyri (Iceland)
Intended Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "A friend told it was awesome."
MID | 5'5 | So. | Morioka City, JAP | Morioka Commercial HS / Oklahoma Panhandle State
» Spent first year at Oklahoma Panhandle State University
» Played in 12 matches with 10 starts for the Aggies, totaling three goals (two game-winners) and one assist
» 2022 graduate of Morioka Commercial High School (Japan)
Intended Major: Accounting
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "Great soccer environment, diversity and university."
DEF/MF | 5'7 | R-So. | Osaka, JAP | Kenmei Gakuin HS / Chico State
» Spent freshman year at California State University, Chico
» 2018 graduate of Kenmei Gakuin High School (Japan)
Intended Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "The diversity of the University. I was also attracted to the University's curriculum. Also, I was very interested in talking to the coaches and thought it would be a good fit for me."
MID/FWD | 5'11 | Jr. | Marin County, CA | Redwood HS / Northern Michigan
» Spent two and a half years at Northern Michigan University
» Played in 11 games for the Wildcats, finishing with one goal and one assist
» Scored first goal in a 1-1 tie (lost in PKs) against Davenport in the 2020-21 GLIAC Tournament.
» Spent a semester at College of Marin (California)
» 2020 graduate of Redwood High School (California)
» Played two seasons of varsity soccer for coach Dave Siracusa
» Marin County Athletic League Champion (x2)
» Played club for Marin FC
Intended Major: Political Science
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "It's close to my family and also a very good university, so combining both becomes a dream school."
DEF/MID | 5'7 | Jr. | Murrieta, CA | Murrieta Valley HS / Holy Names + Palomar College
» Spent one year at Holy Names University (California)
» Played in 13 games for the Hawks, finishing with one assist
» Spent one year at Palomar College (California)
» Played in 16 games with 11 starts for the Comets, totaling six goals (three game-winners) and two assists
» Scored two goals in a win over San Diego Mesa (Oct. 19, 2021)
» 2018 graduate of Murrieta Valley High School (California)
» Played two seasons of varsity soccer
Intended Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai'i Hilo: To continue education and pursue soccer career.
FWD | 5'8 | Jr. | Ogden, UT | Weber HS / Utah State Eastern
» Spent first two years at Utah State University Eastern playing for coach Jared Woodhouse
» Played in 25 games with 20 starts for the Golden Eagles, totaling seven goals (two game-winners) and five assists
» Honors: 2022 All-Region 18 Honorable Mention, Team Captain
» 2021 graduate of Weber High School (Utah)
» Played four seasons of varsity soccer for coach Jan Swift
» Honors: 2021 All-Area MVP, 6A UHSAA State Champion (x2), Utah State Cup Champion (x2)
» Played club for La Roca
Intended Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
FWD | 5'7 | Jr. | Lancaster, CA | Eastside HS / Antelope Valley CC
» Spent first two years at Antelope Valley Community College (California) playing for coach Charles Gordon Jr.
» Played in 34 games with 27 starts for the Marauders, totaling 12 goals (six game-winners) and five assists
» Honors: 2022 Western State Conference South Co-Offensive Player of the Year, CCCSCA South All-Region Team
» 2021 graduate of Eastside High School (California)
» Played four seasons of varsity soccer for coach Luis Jimenez
» Played club for Antelope Valley Futbol Club
Intended Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "I was given the opportunity to continue my soccer career and my academic career."
FWD | 6'1 | Jr. | Palmdale, CA | Palmdale HS / Taft College
» Spent first two years at Taft College (California) playing for coach Angelo Cutrona
» Played in 39 games with 31 starts for the Cougars, totaling four goals (two game-winners) and three assists
» Honors: 2022 Central Valley Conference Midfielder of the Year, CCCSCA North All-Region Team
» 2021 graduate of Palmdale High School (California)
» Played four seasons of varsity soccer for coach Christopher Hernandez
» Honors: Golden League Offensive Player of the Year (x2)
Intended Major: Business Administration
DEF | 5'11 | Sr. | American Canyon, CA | American Canyon HS / Chico State + Folsom Lake + Napa Valley
» Spent one year at California State University, Chico
» Spent one year at Folsom Lake College (California)
» 2021 Big 8 Conference Co-Champion
» Spent first year at Napa Valley College (California)
» 2018 graduate of American Canyon High School (California)
» Played four seasons of varsity soccer
» Played club for Northbay Elite FC
Intended Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "The opportunity to play for the school's men's soccer team. It was one I could not pass up."
