HILO, Hawai'i – The Vulcans jumped on the scoreboard early and never looked back as the Hawai'i Hilo Women's Soccer team extended its regular-season unbeaten streak to 28 games after leaping past Stanislaus State, 3-1, in a non-conference matchup Friday afternoon at the Vulcan Soccer Field.
Teani Arakawa contributed on all three Vulcans scores with two assists before flushing in the third goal to put Hawai'i Hilo up, 3-0, early in the second half.
Alyssa Padron found the back of the net just three minutes into the match after the senior's shot ricocheted off a defender's foot and froze the keeper as the ball floated in for the score.
"Last game, we really weren't satisfied with the tie," senior Filippa Graneld said, referring to the Vulcans' scoreless draw with Northwest Nazarene last Tuesday. "We kind of struggled in the last game having a lot of chances but not being able to put them away, and that's always frustrating so just having that release so fast in the first half was nice."
The Vulcans outshot the Warriors, 11-6, as the one-score lead remained until early in the second half when Graneld's shot from 25 yards out bounced off the keeper's hands and in for a goal.
"[Arakawa] crossed it into me and I was kind of at the top of the box, and I touched it with my right foot and then just cut it inside to my left foot and just hoped for the best," Graneld said of her goal in the 54th minute, which ended up being the game-winner.
Arakawa put the finishing touches on the Vulcan's offensive explosion just five minutes later with a nifty connection after Jazlynn Ellis single-footed Alia Bournay's longball forward as Arakawa raced through defenders and nutmugged (shot between the legs) the goalkeeper for the score.
Stanislaus State prevented the shutout as Jackzeny Mancilla and Alexis Brewah played a nice two-man game with the latter managing to score through six Vulcans defenders in the 67th minute.
UP NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to a 2-0-1 record (0-0-0 Pacific West Conference) while Stanislaus State moved to 2-2-1 (0-0-0 California Collegiate Athletic Association).
The Warriors were voted to be the No. 1 team in the CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Vulcans will hop back over to O'ahu to take on HPU, Tuesday Sept. 19 in Waipahu before returning Thursday, Sept. 21 to host Chaminade to close out the non-conference schedule.
Stanislaus State will remain on the Big Island to play Chaminade this Sunday, 11 a.m. at the Vulcan Soccer Field. Admission will be free. Fans can also watch the match online with a $10 purchase.
RANKINGS
After moving up two spots to No. 12 in the United Soccer Coaches Division II Top 25 Week 1 Poll, Hawai'i Hilo was nowhere to be found on the Week 2 poll, dropping out of both the national and regional rankings despite not losing a match.
Point Loma, who debuted at No. 9, was the only member from the Pacific West Conference to make the list.
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 features 15 total men's and women's soccer 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.
Single-game prices are set at $5 for adults and $4 for seniors (65-plus) and middle/high school students. Admission is free for UH Hilo and Hawai'i Community College students, faculty and staff with valid ID, as well as for ages 12 and under.
Ticket listings can be accessed at HiloAthletics.com/tickets.
