HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Soccer closed out the regular season with a 3-0 shutout of Dominican on Monday afternoon in Pacific West Conference play at the Vulcan Soccer Field.
It was Senior Day and they got it going with Kalaya Havellana connecting to Elise Flores for a top-shelf bullet in the 34th minute. Flores closes the regular season as the Vulcans' team leader in points (8) with three goals and two assists.
Hawai'i Hilo goalkeeper Lydia Keller was credited with one save (85') toward recording her ninth shutout of the season — tying Jenna Hufford (2013) and Phoebe Barnes (2024) for the program's single-season shutouts record. Keller's 17 career shutouts rank No. 2 in the program record book; four behind Hufford (21).
Freshman Ariana Duenas scored right before halftime to make it a 2-0 lead off of assists from Alexandra Vital-Silva and Aubree Panui — all career firsts. Karina Da Silva later converted a drawn foul to a penalty kick score in the 72nd minute to close out the scoring.
The Vulcans celebrated six departing seniors: Havellana, Flores, Keller, Ella Smith, Shae Dougherty and Diana Garcia.
Monday marked the end of the regular season for Hawai'i Hilo, but it will continue on playing and hosting the four-team 2026 PacWest Conference Championships postseason tournament on Nov. 5 and 7. Point Loma (6-0-2) also clinched a spot, leaving Biola (5-1-1), Concordia (5-1-1) and Vanguard (5-3-0) in contention for the final two spots.
Hawai'i Hilo is guaranteed a top-three seed for the tournament, with a slim chance to finish atop the regular-season standings. UHH needs Point Loma to lose at Westmont (Oct. 31), and neither Biola (at Vanguard, at Concordia) nor Concordia (at Westmont, vs Biola) to win out.
GAME NOTES
- Total Shots: Hawai'i Hilo 20, Dominican 5
- Total Shots-On-Goal: Hawai'i Hilo 13, Dominican 1
- Hawai'i Hilo closed the regular season on a 13-match unbeaten streak (9-0-4) with five consecutive wins.
- Hawai'i Hilo: 9-2-4 Overall (6-0-3 PacWest)
- Nickname: Vulcans
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 3
- Current Conference Standing: No. 1
- United Soccer Coaches West Regional Poll #8: No. 10
- NPI Rank (Oct. 25): No. 62 (No. 9 West Region)
- Dominican: 7-9-1 Overall (2-6-0 PacWest)
- Nickname: Penguins
- San Rafael, California
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 4
- Current Conference Standing: No. 7
- NPI Rank (Oct. 25): No. 171 (No. 20 West Region)
PACWEST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The top four teams in the PacWest standings qualify for the PacWest Championships, which Hawai'i Hilo will host at the Vulcan Soccer Field.
- Clinched (2/4): Hawai'i Hilo (6-0-3), Point Loma (6-0-2)
- In Contention (3): Biola (5-1-1), Concordia (5-1-1), Vanguard (5-3-0)
- Eliminated (5): Chaminade (3-5-0), Dominican (2-6-0), HPU (0-6-2), Jessup (1-6-1), Westmont (1-6-0)
Hawai'i Hilo posted an 8-3-6 record last fall and reached the semifinal round of the PacWest Championships. The Vulcans were voted No. 3 earlier this year in the conference coaches preseason poll.
Thursday, Nov. 5 at Vulcan Soccer Field: Semifinals Round
- [11 a.m.] No. 1 Seed vs No. 4 Seed
- [2:30 p.m.] No. 2 Seed vs No. 3 Seed
Saturday, Nov. 7 at Vulcan Soccer Field: Championship Match
AMONG THE BEST IN THE WEST
In the latest United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Women's Soccer West Regional Poll #8 released this past Tuesday, Hawai'i Hilo came in at No. 10 for its first appearance of the season.
NCAA POWER INDEX (NPI)
NCAA Division II has implemented the NCAA Power Index (NPI) as the official, objective metric for determining NCAA Championships postseason tournament berths. Outside of conference champions receiving Automatic Bids (AQs), all remaining at-large spots are awarded based on final NPI rankings, which evaluate winning percentage, strength of schedule and match location.
In the third round of the ratings, Hawai'i Hilo came in at No. 62 nationally and No. 9 in the West Region. NCAA Selection Show will be Nov. 9 with the opening rounds of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championships set for Nov. 13-15. Four at-large berths will be awarded alongside the AQs for the three champions from the conferences comprising the West Region — PacWest, California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).
