SAN DIEGO, California – Ella Smith scored her first career goal in the 89th minute to forge a 1-1 tie for Hawai'i Hilo Women's Soccer against Point Loma on Saturday morning in Pacific West Conference play at the PLNU Soccer Field.
Point Loma netted a score in the 52nd minute and held on until the final minutes of play — which was deja vu for the Sea Lions after last ending in a draw against HPU when the Sharks scored an equalizer in the 87th minute.
The Vulcans had just one shot-on-goal heading down the final stretch and were set up with a free-kick opportunity from about 50 yards out. Elise Flores sent the ball in and it was deflected off the top of a PLNU defender and right to Smith to flush the score through. It was her first score in the 49th career game for Smith, who primarily plays in the defensive backline.
Lydia Keller totaled a season-high seven saves as Point Loma finished with 20 shots.
Saturday's early-morning contest caps a four-game PacWest-opening road trip through Southern California in which the Vulcans went undefeated with one win and three ties — good for six points in the conference standings.
GAME NOTES
- Total Shots: Hawai'i Hilo 8, Point Loma 20
- Total Shots-On-Goal: Hawai'i Hilo 3, Point Loma 8
- Total Corner Kicks: Hawai'i Hilo 3, Point Loma 9
- Keller surpassed the 100 saves mark as a Vulcan and now has 105, which ranks No. 4 all-time in the program record books. She has 129 overall in her career (spent two seasons at Idaho State).
- 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: 4-2-4 Overall (1-0-3 PacWest)
- Nickname: Vulcans
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 3
- Current Conference Standing: No. 4
- Point Loma: 4-2-5 Overall (1-0-2 PacWest)
- Nickname: Sea Lions
- San Diego, California
- Reigning PacWest Champion
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 1
- Current Conference Standing: No. 5
- United Soccer Coaches West Regional Poll #5: No. 5
UP NEXT
- Saturday, Oct. 10 (12:30 PM) vs Chaminade (Vulcan Soccer Field)
- Thursday, Oct. 15 (12:30 PM) vs Westmont (Vulcan Soccer Field)
- Saturday, Oct. 17 (12:30 PM) at HPU (Waipahu, Hawai'i)
- Wednesday, Oct. 21 (12:30 PM) vs Jessup (Vulcan Soccer Field)
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.
PACWEST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
Hawai'i Hilo was voted No. 3 in the Pacific West Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The Vulcans posted an 8-3-6 record last fall and made an appearance in the PacWest Championships semifinal round. The 2026 PacWest Championships will be hosted by Hawai'i Hilo on Nov. 5-7 at Vulcan Soccer Field.
PURCHASE SEASON TICKETS
Tickets for the Vulcans' seven 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 $70 for seven games (now $40).
