HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Soccer welcomes 16 newcomers for the upcoming fall as the Vulcans enter decade No. 2 under 11th-year head coach Gene Okamura.
The 16 total newcomers matches each of the past two seasons' incoming classes for the highest number during Okamura's tenure. Adding to 17 returners, the roster total of 33 is his largest roster to date.
"We are very excited to welcome a quality recruiting class to our program," Okamura said. "There are a lot of pieces in this group that can help us in big ways once they assimilate into what we do. We look forward to seeing how these players impact our program during their time here in Hilo."
Hawai'i Hilo posted an 8-3-6 record last fall and made an appearance in the Pacific West Conference Championships semifinal round.
The Vulcans open the season with a two-match trip to Bellingham, Washington against Great Northwest Athletic Conference foes Western Washington (Aug. 27) and Simon Fraser (Aug. 29) before returning for their home opener against Cal Poly Humboldt (Sept. 4).
2026 WOMEN'S SOCCER ROSTER
- Roster Total: 33
- Seniors: 4
- Upperclassmen: 15
- Returners: 17
- Newcomers: 16
- Freshmen: 8
- Incoming Transfers: 8
- 2025 Departures: 14 (13 Graduated / Exhausted Eligibility)
NEWCOMERS POSITIONS
- Forward: 5
- Midfielder: 6
- Defender: 4
- Goalkeeper: 1
NEWCOMERS HOME STATE/COUNTRY
- California: 7
- Hawai'i: 2
- Washington: 2
- Idaho: 1
- Ohio: 1
- Oregon: 1
- Tennessee: 1
- Texas: 1
F/M | 5'8 | JR | Yorba Linda, CA | Yorba Linda HS / Idaho + Kansas
» One season at University of Idaho (NCAA D-I) playing for coach Jeremy Clevenger
» Played in seven matches through one season with the Vandals
» One season at University of Kansas (NCAA D-I) playing for coach Nate Lee
» Played in four matches through one season with the Jayhawks
» Helped capture the Big 12 Conference Championship (Kansas)
» 2024 graduate of Yorba Linda High School (California)
» Two seasons of varsity soccer for coaches John King, Kino
» Club/Travel Teams: Legends FC ECNL
» Older sister Valeria was a member of the Vulcans Women's Soccer team (2024-2025)
» Career Aspirations: Entertainment Marketing
Major: Business Administration – Marketing
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "It felt like home."
MID | 5'4 | JR | Riverside, CA | Hillcrest HS / Colorado State + San Francisco
» Spent spring 2026 semester with the Rams (NCAA D-I)
» Two seasons at University of San Francisco (NCAA D-I)
» Played in 30 matches making 20 starts through two seasons with the Dons
» Totaled 4 points on 1 goal and 2 assists
» 2025 Fall West Coast Conference All-Academic HM (USF)
» 2024 graduate of Hillcrest High School (California)
Major: Education Studies
MID | 5'4 | JR-R | 'Aiea, HI | Punahou School / Sacramento State
» Three seasons at California State University, Sacramento (NCAA D-I)
» Played in 23 matches through three seasons with the Hornets
» 2024 Big Sky Conference Champion (Sacramento State)
» 2023 graduate of Punahou School (Hawai'i)
» 2023 Hawai'i High School Athletic Association State Champion
» Club/Travel Teams: Leahi Soccer Club, Seattle United ECNL
Major: Chemistry
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "It feels like a home away from home. Having family in Hilo made the place familiar, and being from O'ahu, it's meaningful and exciting to continue my education while still representing home."
M/D | 5'6 | JR | Nanakuli, HI | Kamehameha Schools Kapalama / Western Oregon
» Two seasons at Western Oregon University (NCAA D-II) playing for coach Kacey Bingham
» Played in 25 matches making 8 starts through two seasons with the Wolves
» Contributed to 10 team shutouts
» Logged 42 minutes off the bench in 2-0 L vs the Vulcans (Sept. 19, 2024)
» 2024 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama (Hawai'i)
» Three seasons of varsity soccer for coach Missy Moore
» Club/Travel Teams: Surf Hawai'i
» Nickname: Aubs
Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
DEF | 5'5 | JR-R | Silverdale, WA | Central Kitsap HS / Seattle Pacific
» Three seasons at Seattle Pacific University (NCAA D-II)
» Played in and started 40 matches through three seasons with the Falcons
» Contributed to 14 team shutouts
» Did not appear in any matches in 2023
» Logged 49 minutes in 4-0 L vs the Vulcans (Sept. 12, 2024)
» 2025 All-GNAC HM (Seattle Pacific)
» 2025 Academic All-GNAC Team (Seattle Pacific)
» 2023 graduate of Central Kitsap High School (Washington)
» Club/Travel Teams: Washington Premier ECNL
Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences + Communication
F/D | 5'0 | SO-R | Sumner, WA | Sumner HS / Oregon State
» Two seasons at Oregon State University (NCAA D-I) playing for coach Caroline Kelly
» Played in three games through two seasons with the Beavers
» Redshirted 2025 season
» 2024 graduate of Sumner High School (Washington)
» Four seasons of varsity soccer for coach Robi Turley
» Honors: All-State First Team, (2x) All-League First Team
» Club/Travel Teams: Crossfire Premier, Crossfire ECNL
» Career Aspirations: Sideline Sports Reporter
Major: Communication
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "Not only is it beautiful and such a great destination to be, but the coaches called me with open arms and rekindled my flame to play soccer again. It is such an amazing opportunity to play among such great women and staff!"
F/M | 5'4 | SO | Nashville, TN | Hume-Fogg Academic HS / Eastern Kentucky
» One season at Eastern Kentucky University (NCAA D-I) playing for coach Matthew Cosinuke
» Played in nine matches through one season with the Colonels
» Scored 2 goals
» ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 No. 2 Play (Oct. 16, 2025)
» 2024 graduate of Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Tennessee)
» Three seasons of varsity soccer for coach Phillip Lovell
» Club/Travel Teams: Tennessee Soccer Club ECNL
» Nickname: Silvi
» Career Aspirations: Neurologist
Major: Biology
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "It has a beautiful campus and the soccer team and coach stood out to me in such a positive way."
DEF | 5'11 | SO | Santa Monica, CA | Santa Monica HS / Cal State Dominguez Hills
» One season at California State University, Dominguez Hills (NCAA D-II)
» Played in 17 matches making 2 starts through one season with the Toros
» Scored 1 goal and contributed to 4 team shutouts
» 2025 graduate of Santa Monica High School (California)
» Three seasons of varsity soccer
» Honors: Defensive MVP, Ocean-League First Team
» First Name: Emilia
» Career Aspirations: Athletic Trainer or Physical Therapist
Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
F/D | 5'4 | FR | Columbus, OH | Dublin Jerome HS
» 2026 graduate of Dublin Jerome High School (Ohio)
» Three seasons of varsity soccer for coach Georgi Petrov
» (4x) District Champion
» Honors: (2x) Ohio Cardinal Conference First Team, (3x) Central District Team
» Other Sports: Basketball
» Club/Travel Teams: Internationals Soccer Club under Keri Sarver and Zdravko Popovic
» Nickname: Kae
» Career Aspirations: Entrepreneurship in Marine Conservation
Major: Marine Science
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "It felt like home meeting the coaching staff, the diversity amongst the team and the authentic Hilo community. I also chose Hilo for the world-renowned Marine Science program due to its immersive and hands-on curriculum."
MID | 5'7 | FR | Los Angeles, CA | WISH Academy HS
» 2025 graduate of WISH Academy High School (California)
» Club/Travel Teams: Pateadores ECNL
» Last Name: Dueñas
» Career Aspirations: Doctor
Major: Biology – Cell, Molecular & Biomedical Sciences
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "I believe its high academic, athletic standards and rich cultural environment will shape me into the best version of myself, both on and off the field."
M/F | 5'5 | FR | Portland, OR | Beaverton HS
» 2026 graduate of Beaverton High School (Oregon)
» Four seasons of varsity soccer for coaches Chelsey Evans, Chris Evans, Brynn Wytcherley
» Honors: Oregon 6A All-State First Team, (3x) All-Metro League Team
» Other Sports: Track
» Club/Travel Teams: Oregon Surf ECNL
Major: Business Administration – Management
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "It is a great place to really develop in my play as the atmosphere is very uplifting and encouraging, very work hard play hard from what I have seen, and I love the team dynamic!"
F/M | 5'2 | FR | Penryn, CA | Del Oro HS
» 2026 graduate of Del Oro High School (California)
» Four seasons of varsity soccer for coaches Megan Harris, BJ Glass
» (3x) Sac Joaquin Section Champion, (3x) Sac Joaquin League Champion
» Honors: (3x) All-League Team
» Club/Travel Teams: Placer United ECNL, ODP
» First Name: Cassie
» Career Aspirations: Kindergarten Teacher
Major: Education Studies
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "I love the beautiful scenery and the atmosphere of the school, and it felt like the right place for me to continue my journey academically and athletically."
MID | 5'7 | FR | Pocatello, ID | Highland HS
» 2026 graduate of Highland High School (Idaho)
» Four seasons of varsity soccer for coach Matthew Shutes
» Honors: (2x) All-Conference First Team
» Club/Travel Teams: Utah Avalanche ECNL
Major: Business Administration
DEF | 5'4 | FR | Leander, TX | Rouse HS
» Spring 2026 early enrollee
» 2025 (December) graduate of Rouse High School (Texas)
» Club/Travel Teams: Sting Austin 08 ECNL
Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
GK | 5'9 | FR | Pasadena, CA | Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy
» 2026 graduate of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy (California)
» Club/Travel Teams: LA SURF 08 GA
Major: Communication
DEF | 5'4 | FR | Brea, CA | Sunny Hills HS
» 2026 graduate of Sunny Hills High School (California)
» Four seasons of varsity soccer
» Honors: (3x) All-League First Team
» Club/Travel Teams: HB Koge Slammers FC
Major: Psychology
