Wahine’s seniors relished the ride

The laughs endured through loss after loss.

Now the five outgoing seniors of the Hawaii women’s soccer team will try to end their careers with something to really smile about.

The Rainbow Wahine host UC Davis today at 7 p.m. and Pacific on Sunday’s senior night, then bid farewell to Kanani Taaca, Amber Fuller, Rachel Domingo, Michelle Nakasone and Christy Watanabe before the team ends its season on the mainland next week or beyond.

There is still time to post a winning season for the 6-8-2 overall (1-4 Big West) Wahine, despite losing seven of their past eight matches. Such a feat would be the first for UH since 2008 and a benchmark for second-year coach Michele Nagamine. UH also has a shot (however difficult) at making the BWC tournament with four matches left. A top-four finish in the league is required; the Wahine are currently in eighth.

The departing seniors — local girls all — are a mix of starters and reserves, mainstays and recent breakouts. They’ve always known how to enjoy themselves through the ups and downs, and all have had an impact this season.

"We’re all just really energetic and funny," said Taaca, a four-year starter at goalkeeper. "Every day there’s a moment. Whether it’s Michelle falling down in the shower or Rachel making jokes on the field. Every day there’s something to take away. It’s going to be really sad not to see them all the time."

Nagamine coached Taaca from age 10 and Fuller at Kamehameha prior to becoming their college coach. She credited the total group with lending an upbeat example to the team’s many younger players.

"Really, they’ve kind of restored a lot of pride in the program," Nagamine said. "I think regardless of how many minutes they played — some played a lot and some played sparingly — I think the impact that they each made will be pretty indelible."

You can’t talk about the 2012 class without mentioning Taaca first. She has a program-record 3,283 consecutive minutes in goal, going back to the start of her junior year. The four-year starter’s career numbers in saves (245) and matches played (67) and started (62) at her position all rank No. 2 in the UH record books.

"I think being in the game that much is something that I’m going to remember forever," Taaca said. "Things happen throughout the field and I’ve gained such a friendship with the back line. Things that I’m never going to forget."

It was a big year for Fuller, a midfielder who came in from HPU last year and has started all but one of UH’s 16 matches. The real reason? Her 8-month-old son, Ryder.

"My (senior) highlight would be Ryder," said Fuller, who has two career goals at UH. "It’s actually been a lot of fun (juggling responsibilities). I always have something to do, with school, with soccer. It’s tiring, but really rewarding. And I get a lot of support."

Domingo was a vocal leader of the Wahine at midfield for the last few years, taking over that role held previously by her older sister, Jessica. Unfortunately, she had her fifth year in the program cut short by an ACL tear after four matches. The Roosevelt alum finished her career with four goals and seven assists in 55 matches.

"It’s kind of mixed feeling," Domingo said. "I’m pretty excited to move on with my life, but at the same time, soccer has been a huge part of my life. … "

The last two seniors, Watanabe and Nakasone, elevated their play this season to become valued in the rotation at forward and midfield. They both scored their first career goals in 2012 — both game-winners, Watanabe vs. Detroit in overtime and Nakasone on the road at UNLV.

"My hopes, goals, expectations, aspirations, I’m just surprised at where I am. I just couldn’t be more grateful," said Watanabe, a Roosevelt graduate who’s played 50 career matches.

Said the former Leilehua standout Nakasone: "I didn’t expect anything coming into this year. I didn’t expect a lot of playing time, traveling and all that. … Everything I worked for the past few years all just paid off."