For a solid year, Michele Nagamine told people to relax, but could say little more.
Until Thursday, that is.
The third-year Hawaii soccer coach at last got in all eight letters of intent she’d eagerly anticipated to demonstrate that yes, she recruits the islands, too. Her 2013 crop is split evenly between four local players and four hailing from California.
"I have been waiting and waiting for this day for just about a year now," Nagamine said with a laugh. "As soon as last year’s class came out, I had a whole lot of grief that I only had one local player. I said, ‘be patient, be patient.’ "
Her 2012 class featured only one local player, Amanda "Ziggy" McCaskill, and eight from California. The Rainbow Wahine enjoyed a solid second season under Nagamine, going 8-9-3 overall and 3-5-1 in the difficult Big West Conference for sixth place. UH was picked to finish last among 10 teams in its new league.
She anticipates the upcoming squad will come together more quickly than last year’s group.
"When I got hired, it was going to be my mission to surround our best local talent with people who really understood what a tremendous opportunity it was to play in Hawaii," Nagamine said. "We’ve learned in the last two years who matches our program. Who we need to recruit. Last year we had a large class from the mainland with one local recruit … this year, we’re getting four of the top players in the state."
The local products are Kama Pascua of 2013 state champ ‘Iolani, Madison Reed and T.J. Reyno of Mililani, and Storm Kenui of Moanalua. Reyno is ranked No. 81 on ESPN’s Top 150 recruits list.
They’re joined by Mikaela "Monk" Berger, Ryan Daniel, Korinne Estrada and Hallie Hernandez from the Golden State. All the newcomers save for Daniel, a junior college transfer, are freshmen.
UH is replacing five lost to graduation — goalkeeper Kanani Taaca, midfielders Rachel Domingo and Amber Fuller, and forwards Christy Watanabe and Michelle Nakasone. Two other players, midfielders Alex Gerrain and Carly Mottram, were lost to early departures.
Taaca, a four-year starter in goal, was the most decorated of the lost players. Nagamine had two redshirted keepers last season in Georgia Barnes and Erica Young, but felt she couldn’t pass up on Berger, who is rated No. 58 on ESPN’s list.
Pascua is the younger sister of All-Big West second-team midfielder Krystal Pascua. The Pascua sisters will have two seasons to play together.
"Kama and Krystal, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with," Nagamine said. "They’ve got that sister connection. They are a terror. I had to coach against them at Kamehameha when they were at ‘Iolani. You now have to worry about two very dynamic players who can assist and score goals. They’re going to be double trouble, for sure."
Hernandez has dual citizenship with Mexico and played for the Mexican U-17 Women’s World Cup team in 2012.
