The Hawaii soccer team must find a new primary source of offense for the upcoming season.

Senior striker Tiana Fujimoto had foot surgery this week and will redshirt 2014, UH coach Michele Nagamine said.

It was a cumulative stress injury for the All-Big West forward, who dealt with plantar discomfort and swelling in her right foot through much of 2013’s 8-8-1 campaign. Despite that, she scored 10 of the team’s 18 goals (55.6 percent). A type of foot tendinitis persisted through offseason team activities, forcing the surgery.

"I’m hoping this is the first step in the right direction for her," Nagamine said. "The poor kid had to play in pain all last season. You know, this is something that needed to be done. Her health and well-being are the No. 1 priority."

The 5-foot Moanalua alum has 21 career goals — fifth in program history. In 2013, she notched seven game-winners, tied with Natasha Kai for the program single-season record.

Fujimoto said she did what she could to rest and recover, but surgery became a best and last option. She can complete her career in the 2015 season.

"I’ve been disappointed not being able to play this long and just having to watch my team play instead of playing with them isn’t fun," she said. "It wasn’t a part of God’s plan for me to play this season, I’m bummed out I can’t play, but being able to redshirt and have another season to play is a blessing. My mentality is to come back strong and do what I can to be on that field again."

Nagamine voiced confidence in a retooled attack, though she did not single out any players to take Fujimoto’s place as the team’s go-to attacker.

The team’s first official practice is Aug. 6 and the season opener is Aug. 24 vs. Arizona State in the Outrigger Resorts Shootout.

"We have to wait and see how the kids are going to come back fit," Nagamine said. "But I think we’re going to have a tremendous amount of firepower up top. I think we’re going to have a number of different people wanting to step in and really make their mark. So I’m excited. I think it’s going to be a fantastic season."

Meanwhile Nagamine — coaching her fourth season at UH — and athletic director Ben Jay are in the process of finalizing a three-year extension to take her through the 2017 season.

"I’m really happy about where we are right now as a program," said Nagamine, citing the team’s GPA, the program’s strength of schedule and consistency of her coaching staff. "I’m extremely grateful (for the extension)."