Raisa Strom-Okimoto’s past is pain. Her present is the potential payoff.
When the Hawaii soccer senior is dealt with a setback, she responds by creating a better, stronger version of herself.
Strom-Okimoto and the Rainbow Wahine, who’ve been denied entry to the Big West tournament every year, are on the cusp of a breakthrough this week. Should UH (8-6-1, 3-3 Big West) win home matchups today against UC Riverside (11-2-3, 2-2-2) and Sunday vs. Cal State Fullerton (3-12-2, 0-5-1) in their final regular-season games, the Wahine would very likely make it into the requisite top four.
If they do, it will almost certainly be because Strom-Okimoto willed them there. The co-captain’s been doing it all year for an exceptionally young team that sometimes starts more freshmen than not.
“I think it’s a dream come true,” Strom-Okimoto said of tourney possibilities. “Being able to leave a legacy, and to help them (the young players). Right now, building a foundation for the next couple of years is kind of the goal. … Hopefully change the culture of how things were in a positive way.”
Her burst ability — something that’s set her apart this season — is the best it’s ever been coming off another strenuous offseason regimen of technique and fitness drills.
“These are things that have been a conscious effort,” UH coach Michele Nagamine said. “I don’t want people to look at her and think, ‘wow, she sure got lucky in her senior year.’ This kid has worked harder than anybody I’ve seen since I’ve worked at UH. And that’s a pretty big statement to make.”
Her origin story makes present circumstances all the more remarkable.
At Aiea High, she lost two seasons — her sophomore and senior seasons — because of two ACL injuries, one on each knee. There were long roads back that lasted into following years’ preseasons.
Now Strom-Okimoto, who stylistically bears little resemblance to the freshman version of herself, tops the Big West in goals (11) and points (25), which include assists. Those have usually been to the benefit of sophomore Lei Medeiros (seven goals).
Strom-Okimoto’s scores this season are the most by a Wahine player since 2007. After posting the 13th hat trick in program history in a 4-0 win at Cal Poly on Friday, she is sixth in UH career goals at 21.
“She’s a true leader. She leads through her actions, and we just follow her,” said fellow senior Sarah Lau, who had a key game-winner at Cal State Northridge in Big West play. “I mean, it’s amazing for all of us to witness her being in the running for (Big West) player of the year, and she honestly really does deserve it. I don’t know one person who works harder than her. She deserves all of this, and we’re one team and we play as one team and we need everyone on board.”
UH tweaked its offense this season, moving Strom-Okimoto all the way up top from her traditional attacking midfielder position.
She can still launch shots from 30-plus yards with the best of them. But watching a teammate slot a through ball upfield and Strom-Okimoto tear after it — with a defender or two plus the goalkeeper to beat at close range — has been a special kind of thrill this season.
Sometimes she scores. Sometimes the defense makes a great save. Sometimes they concede a foul to knock her off the ball.
“Usually the odds are in Raisa’s favor,” Lau said.
UH SOCCER FINAL HOMESTAND
at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium
Today: UC Riverside (11-2-3, 2-2-2 Big West) at Hawaii (8-6-1, 3-3), 7 p.m.
Sunday: Cal State Fullerton (3-12-2, 0-5-1) at Hawaii, 2 p.m.
TV: Spectrum Sports
