SAN DIEGO, California – Hawai'i Hilo Men's Soccer fell to Point Loma, 2-1, on Saturday morning in Pacific West Conference play at the PLNU Soccer Field.
Point Loma scored both of its goals on penalty kicks in the 16th (Jack Merrill) and 28th minutes (James Haynes). Both were awarded on fouls by the Vulcans inside the penalty area – the first of which was granted after a coaches' video challenge review. Hawai'i Hilo has awarded opposing teams four PK attempts through the last three games.
Still, the Vulcans pulled back within one score in the 57th minute when Shawn O'Brien was shown a yellow card for a foul on Nico Rahman just outside the box to set up a direct kick from 30 yards that Keita Goto sliced in through the top-left corner of the goal.
Hawai'i Hilo closed the four-game PacWest opening slate through California with four points after going 1-2-1. The Vulcans will play at home the rest of the regular season after being the only team in the country to play seven consecutive road contests this season.
GAME NOTES
- Total Shots: Hawai'i Hilo 15, Point Loma 15
- Goto leads the team with seven points on three goals (one game-winner) and one assist.
- Diego Bastias entered into the game in goal for the second half and recorded one save.
- Match start time was moved up a few hours in efforts to avoid potential unsafe on-field playing conditions forecasted later in the day due to a current ongoing heat wave in San Diego.
- Hawai'i Hilo: 4-5-1 Overall (1-2-1 PacWest)
- Nickname: Vulcans
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 3
- Current Conference Standing: No. 6
- United Soccer Coaches West Regional Poll #5: No. 9
- Point Loma: 5-3-3 Overall (2-1 PacWest)
- Nickname: Sea Lions
- San Diego, California
- Reigning PacWest Champions
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 1
- Current Conference Standing: No. T4
- United Soccer Coaches West Regional Poll #5: No. 10
- Saturday's game was a rematch of last season's PacWest Championship match, in which the Vulcans finished as conference tournament runner-up after having to play the last 75 minutes of that contest with one man down after receiving an early red card.
UP NEXT
- Saturday, Oct. 10 (3 PM) vs Chaminade (Vulcan Soccer Field)
- Thursday, Oct. 15 (3 PM) vs Westmont (Vulcan Soccer Field)
- Saturday, Oct. 17 (3 PM) at HPU (Waipahu, Hawai'i)
VULCAN CHALLENGE
Hawai'i Hilo Athletics has launched its annual Vulcan Challenge, a month-long fundraising campaign running from Sept. 21 through Oct. 23 to support scholarships, travel, training and other essential resources for the Vulcans' 12 NCAA Division II teams. To support, visit HiloAthletics.com/VC.
AMONG THE BEST IN THE WEST
In the latest United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Poll #5 released this past Tuesday, the Vulcans returned to the West Regional Rankings at No. 9. Previous Ranks: No. 5 (Week 1), No. 5 (Week 2), No. 10 (Week 3), NR (Week 4).
PACWEST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
Hawai'i Hilo was voted No. 3 in the PacWest Preseason Coaches Poll. The Vulcans went 12-6-2 overall last fall with a runner-up finish at the PacWest Championships and its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance and victory in the NCAA Super 4 Region First Round. The 2026 PacWest Championships will be hosted by Dominican on Nov. 5-7 in San Rafael, California.
PURCHASE SEASON TICKETS
Tickets for the Vulcans' six home matches at the on-campus Vulcan Soccer Field are available for purchase at HiloAthletics.com/tickets. Season tickets are $70 ($35 for seniors aged 65-plus and middle/high school students) and include admission to all 13 total Vulcans Soccer (both Men's and Women's) home contests this fall.
BUY LIVESTREAM PACKAGE
Video livestreaming will be available for all home events this season through the PacWest Network, powered by Hudl TV. More information is available at HiloAthletics.com/livestream. Single-game passes are offered at $15 with a season-package price of $60 for six games (now $40).
