COSTA MESA, California – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Soccer erased a two-goal deficit and flipped it into a 3-2 victory over Vanguard on Monday afternoon in Pacific West Conference play at the VU Soccer Field.
The Lions managed to add early digits next to their name on scoreboard with goals in the fifth (Kalena Yamashita) and 21st (Abby Trujillo) minutes.
After having taken zero corner kicks in last Saturday's draw with Concordia (Sept. 26), the Vulcans cashed in big as time winded down on the opening half. Ella Smith launched a cross into the box that was volleyed off the top of the heads of a few Vulcans players before being sent through the back of the net. Drew Sievers got the initial touch with Delaney Barbee connecting on a second hit. A Lions defender got her leg on the ball in mid-air to prevent the score, but Sievers dashed forward for the clean-up header to the back of the net in the 42nd minute.
Just a few moments later, it was deja vu with Smith lining up again on the corner kick. This time, it was Mia Berney who was in the right place at the right time as Smith's cross went right past the leaping Vanguard keeper and off Berney's noggin for the equalizer.
In the second half, Barbee drew a foul inside the box and Sydney Harpster put through the penalty-kick attempt in the 51st minute to make it three unanswered scores for the Vulcans.
GAME NOTES
- Total Shots: Hawai'i Hilo 11, Vanguard 16
- Total Saves: Hawai'i Hilo 4, Vanguard 0
- Vulcans are 2 of 2 on penalty kick attempts this season.
- Hawai'i Hilo: 4-2-2 Overall (1-0-1 PacWest)
- Nickname: Vulcans
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 3
- Current Conference Standing: No. T2
- Vanguard: 3-5-1 Overall (1-1-0 PacWest)
- Nickname: Lions
- Costa Mesa, California
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 5
- Current Conference Standing: No. T4
UP NEXT
- Thursday, Oct. 1 (1 PM HT / 4 PM PT) at Biola (La Mirada, California)
- Saturday, Oct. 3 (8:30 AM HT / 11:30 AM PT) at Point Loma (San Diego, California)
- Saturday, Oct. 10 (12:30 PM) vs Chaminade (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).
