WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – The unbeaten Hawai'i Hilo Women's Soccer team continued its winning ways and got the Pacific West Conference season started with a 2-1 victory over HPU at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

For the Vulcans, it was the first goal surrendered through 5.99 games this season as the Sharks managed to find the back of the net with just single-digit ticks remaining on the clock.

Nonetheless, Hawai'i Hilo broke through a scoreless opening half as Diana Garcia connected with Alyssa Padron on a free kick from about 40 yards out. Garcia lofted one over the top for Padron to head in past the goalkeeper for the first score in the 58th minute.

Mere minutes later, Filippa Graneld and Savina Zamborini were firing on all cylinders to weave through a crowded Sharks defense to find Jazlynn Ellis in front of the goal for the top-bar score.

"The first goal came off of a set piece and we work on set pieces for quite a while so it's just something that we really execute and take seriously, and having that opportunity to finish felt really great," Padron said. "Jazzy's goal was really nice. It was just a bunch of combinations in the box and just selfless passes too so it really shows the teamwork that we put in."

The Vulcans dominated on the attacking end of the field with a 11-2 shot advantage (7-1 on-goal) and a 5-1 tally on corner kicks.

UP NEXT

Hawai'i Hilo moved to a 1-0-0 record in the PacWest (4-0-2 overall) as HPU moved to an 0-1-0 conference record (1-2-0 overall).

The Vulcans return to the Big Island for a four-game homestand hosting Academy of Art (Oct. 1), Dominican (Oct. 6), Jessup (Oct. 12) and Menlo (Oct. 15).

Top four teams in the regular season standings will qualify for the first PacWest Conference Championships postseason tournament set for Nov. 14-16 at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.

AMONG THE BEST IN THE WEST

In the third United Soccer Coaches Division II Rankings released this past Tuesday, Hawai'i Hilo once again moved up one spot in the West Region, this time to No. 6.

The Vulcans were marked as having received votes in the top 25 national poll.

The next rankings will be released Tuesday.