SAN DIEGO, California – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Soccer claimed its first-ever NCAA postseason victory after edging out Concordia, 3-1, Thursday morning in the NCAA West Regional First Round held at Point Loma Nazarene University.

"It's the first NCAA Tournament win for our program so it's very big," Vulcans ninth-year head coach Gene Okamura said. "Super proud of the girls for the work they put in and execution of the tactics and game plan we talked about. Hopefully we can do it again on Saturday."

The Vulcans advance to Saturday's NCAA West Regional Second Round with another rematch set against newly-crowned Pacific West Conference Champion and reigning NCAA Division II Women's Soccer National Champion Point Loma. Hawai'i Hilo had just matched up with both CUI (W 4-2) and PLNU (L 3-2, 2OT) in the semifinals and title match, respectively, of last week's inaugural PacWest Conference Championships postseason tournament.

"Obviously playing Concordia, one of the top teams in the country all year, and playing them twice in the week was a little nerve-wracking. Playing once in a year is tough so hats off to them," Okamura said.

Thursday morning, the Vulcans took it to the Golden Eagles once again as Jazlynn Ellis continued her hot scoring tear with a goal in a fifth-consecutive match, starting in the 37th minute on a connection from Alyssa Padron and Alia Bournay off a downfield free kick.

Coming out of halftime, Padron flexed her muscle and took the ball straight through a handful of Concordia defenders to find the back of the net in the 46th minute.

"I think the better the defense, the more fun the game is to be honest," Ellis said. "As forwards, we're allowed some creative freedom and when you're matched up — I mean iron sharpens iron, absolutely, and it's fun to take those opponents on and we were able to get results out of it today."

Ellis later was fouled inside the CUI penalty area, prompting Diana Garcia to put through the penalty-kick attempt in the 67th minute for the 3-0 lead.

CUI, who posted nine shutouts this season, managed to erase the clean sheet with a 78th-minute score by Nikki Marino.

Hawai'i Hilo moved to 14-2-3 overall as Concordia finished the season at a 13-3-2 record

OTHER NOTES

• With three points, Padron moved to No. 3 in the Vulcans record books for both all-time points (56) and assists (14) — the latter tied with Kelly White (06-08). She also moved to a tie at No. 4 (with Filippa Graneld) at 19 career goals. Ellis is one behind with 18 scores.
• Goalkeeper Phoebe Barnes collected four saves to move to No. 4 all-time in the program records with 87, surpassing Alyssa Ann Barone (10-11).
• The Vulcans top three all-time points scorers are current members of the team: No. 1 Teani Arakawa (80), Filippa Graneld (59), No. 3 Alyssa Padron (56).
• It was postseason win No. 1 for Hawai'i Hilo Women's Soccer after having previously fallen short with a NCAA West Regional First Round defeat to Sonoma State in 2021 and a Second Round loss to CUI in 2022.

UP NEXT: NCAA West Regional Second Round – Saturday, Nov. 23 (11 AM / 1 PM PT) vs Point Loma (San Diego, California / PLNU Soccer Field)

NCAA WEST REGIONAL – SATURDAY, NOV. 23 (11 AM / 1 PM PT)

• #2 Point Loma (PacWest Champion) vs #3 Hawai'i Hilo (At-Large) – San Diego, CA / Point Loma
• #1 Cal Poly Pomona (CCAA Champion) vs #5 Western Washington (At-Large) – Pomona, CA / Cal Poly Pomona
• Season Ended: #4 Azusa Pacific (At-Large); #6 Concordia (At-Large); #7 Simon Fraser (GNAC Champion)
• The last two national championships have come through the West Region with Western Washington in 2022 and Point Loma in 2023.

NCAA POSTSEASON SCHEDULE

• Saturday, Nov. 23: Regional Second Round
• Sunday, Dec. 1: Regional Championship
• Saturday, Dec. 7: Quarterfinals (South Central/West)
• Friday, Dec. 13: Semifinals
• Sunday, Dec. 15: National Championship