A season-long opportunity to punt past struggles and frustrations begins now for the Hawaii soccer team.
2016 UH SOCCER BY POSITION
FORWARDS
Returns: #8 Sonest Furtado, 5-5 Jr.; #28 Kellsie Gleason, 6-0 So.
Gains: #12 Addie Steiner, 5-2 Sr.; #26 Tia Furuta, 5-5 Fr.
Losses: Tiana Fujimoto (five years); Kama Pascua (three years); Justine Olotoa (three years); Amanda Bates (four years); Malissa Shadle (one year)
Summary: Fujimoto and Pascua are big names to replace on paper, but they were limited in effectiveness in 2015 coming off injury (Fujimoto) and for chemistry and dismissal reasons (Pascua). The dynamic Furtado and physical Gleason offered a contrast of effective styles in the Tusculum game; both produced two goals. Furtado is at her best when she’s relaxed and patient. Gleason, who has locked down the left starting spot, has upped her explosiveness and could author plenty of attention. Steiner could be a true difference-maker with a killer instinct and will compete with Furtado for time up top. Nagamine has high hopes for Furuta, who got off to a slow start in camp but has come on strong and could be first off the bench this weekend. All four of those players should see plenty of time.
MIDFIELDERS
Returns: #20 Raisa Strom-Okimoto, 5-3 So.; #23 Lauren Takai, 5-4 Sr.; #5 Sarah Lau, 5-10 So.; #15 Madison Reed, 5-7 Sr.; #18 Ryan Daniel, 5-5 Sr.; #9 Keala Parker-Lee, 5-5 Jr.; #10 Spenser Jaye, 5-5 Jr.; #14 McKenna Gleason, 5-6 So.
Gains: #3 Lillie French, 5-8 Fr.; #17 Mikaela Johnson-Griggs, 5-8 Fr.; #22 Kylie Wolfe, 5-6 Fr.
Losses: Nici Lopez (one year)
Summary: Nagamine plans to rotate a sizable cast at center field, headed up by Aiea product Strom-Okimoto, who was one of the biggest revelations of the preseason. She’s locked down attacking mid this year after recording a single start and single goal as a true freshman coming off a knee injury. Reed, a defender by trade, has been moved up marginally to holding mid. Newcomer Johnson-Griggs (who signed with UH as McKinney-Griggs) will get a chance there, too, along with Parker-Lee. The tireless Daniel and explosive Lau were moved up from the back line and could split time at left flank. Lau’s developed a reputation for booming kicks and could make her mark on set pieces. French had a breakout game in the Tusculum exhibition and has been a pleasant surprise on the right, where she could join steady co-captain Takai. Jaye, Gleason and Wolfe are reserves.
DEFENDERS
Returns: #2 Storm Kenui, 5-5 Sr.; #7 Dani Crawford, 5-4 Jr.; #6 T.J. Reyno, 5-2 Sr.; #24 Paige Okazaki, 5-7 Jr.; #27 Elise Wassner, 5-10 Sr.
Gains: #4 MyMy Baca, 5-7 Fr.; #13 Mya Torres, 5-3 Fr.; #16 Sammi Walker, 5-4 Fr.; #11 Bo Samson, 5-5 Jr.
Losses: Lidia Battaglia (four years)
Summary: Nagamine decided Kenui’s steady presence was best felt at center back, where she’s seen work increasingly the last two years but never full time until now. She’ll quarterback things next to Paige Okazaki, who was demoted to part-time status last year after making every start as a true freshman in 2014 but impressed the coaches with recent improvement. Wassner, the tallest defender, and Torres will back them up. The versatile Crawford, 2015’s leading scorer with three goals, has locked down outer right back. The shifty Reyno is an attacker by reputation but is getting a chance at left back as one of the team’s best 1v1 defenders. Samson has made a quick impression and could see rotation time immediately. Freshmen Baca and Walker provide depth.
GOALKEEPERS
Returns: #21 Monk Berger, 5-7 Sr.; #1 Alexis Mata, 5-7 So.
Gains: #30 Evelyn Fierros, 5-8 Jr.; #31 Hannah Gardner, 5-8 Fr.
Losses: Erica Young (four years)
Summary: UH has never before carried four keepers under Nagamine. The decision was made in the offseason to increase competition coming off the lackluster 2015 campaign, which included plenty of struggles in goal. Thus, Fierros and Gardner were late additions. Berger and Mata responded by coming into camp at peak fitness. Berger is the incumbent but is getting pushed by Mata, who appeared in three games as a freshman. Berger is looking to reclaim her Big West All-Freshman form of three years ago; her goals-against average has ticked up from 1.00 to 1.97 to 2.29 by season.
The Rainbow Wahine kick off the 2016 campaign against Oregon of the Pac-12 today in the Outrigger Soccer Classic opening series at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
UH, 3-14-1 overall and 0-8 in the Big West a year ago, set program marks for longest single-season losing streak and most conference losses. Things were a mess on the field and off.
There wasn’t just one thing for coach Michele Nagamine to fix for the four-team Big West tournament to become a reasonable goal again. The problems went more than skin deep.
“When I look at the entire situation, it’s like, are we going to get the nose job, the tummy tuck, the … ?” said Nagamine, now in her sixth season. “There were so many things we could have done. Basically we did a whole body overhaul.”
While there were matters to address at every position — the Wahine sported the brutal combination of averaging less than a goal a game and giving up 2.5 per outing — the coach said, “No. 1 was the culture.”
The team has worked with a sports psychologist since the spring, and bonding activities were ramped up during a physically taxing fall camp that featured an increase in two-a-days.
Between that and an infusion of bodies — Sacred Hearts Academy alumna and Northeastern transfer Bo Samson was added this week to raise the newcomer count to 11 — the Rainbow Wahine are optimistic they can turn a corner. The roster of 28 affords some options in the team’s 4-4-2 formation.
Nagamine considered fitness a strong suit of this group, allowing them to push harder than usual this time of year.
“We’ve got some real mentally tough kids who are very no-nonsense,” Nagamine said, contrasting that with 2015. “They’re here to compete. We’ve had some brutal training sessions; our injury list was like 13 people long because these guys are getting in there and getting after each other, and it’s nice to see.”
The program’s last overall winning season was 2008, and the Wahine haven’t earned a winning Big West mark since joining that league in 2012.
Junior forward Sonest Furtado resolved things will be different based on the team’s offseason work and cohesion in the fall.
“The team chemistry — last year we didn’t really have that,” she said. “This year we work together as a team way better. I think that’s just going to show this season.”
Senior co-captain Storm Kenui agreed.
“We’ve kind of noticed the change now,” she said. “It’s been very positive, and the change we needed. I can’t really explain it, but it just feels different.”
UH tuned up Division II Tusculum (Tenn.) 6-0 at Waipio on Aug. 12 in an exhibition.
Kenui, a natural midfielder now at center back, is one of several returnees who’ve seen their position shift at the coaches’ behest.
“Last week we had a good start,” said Kenui, who is fully recovered from an offseason broken ankle. “Coming into this week we have a good vision of what was working last week.”
The Wahine got another boost on Wednesday when touted Northwestern transfer Addie Steiner was cleared to play by the NCAA. Steiner is a two-time All-Big Ten second-teamer and is expected to make an instant impact at forward in her final season.
Recent history could change as soon as tonight. UH has dropped its last six season openers.
Opening with a Pac-12 team has been a recent staple — this is the third straight — of Nagamine. Oregon, like Hawaii, was picked to finish last in its conference.
UH continues play against Nevada of the Mountain West on Sunday. Gonzaga, which is in the tournament but does not face UH, plays Nevada today and Oregon on Sunday.
