Wahine work on chemistry

The Hawaii soccer team presses on through adverse conditions.

UH (2-6-1) has weathered losses to ranked teams at home and everybody on the road. It’s played through the absence of some key players. One of those athletes — striker Kama Pascua — is apparently done for the season for what coach Michele Nagamine called "personal matters."

And the Rainbow Wahine are feeling … happy?

"I think we have positive vibes right now. We have a positive attitude," freshman Raisa Strom-Okimoto said after Wednesday’s practice session for today’s home match with Brigham Young-Hawaii. "We’re feeling really good about tomorrow."

The Division II Seasiders (0-2-1) are the last official nonconference opponent on the schedule before Big West play begins next week. However, there’s also the annual alumnae game on Sunday.

UH was dealt an emotional setback in a last-minute 3-2 loss at Nevada last Sunday, dropping UH to 0-4 on the mainland. But a long team powwow Tuesday instead of a normal practice session seemed to get some things out in the open.

"The vibe was just, it was the lowest point for us I think," co-captain Lidia Battaglia said of the trip. "And we were all feeling it. So the plane ride was pretty long and rough. But we came back, we got together and we figured out basically what the problem was and came out (Wednesday) for our first practice since. And I think it’s like night and day. I think we’re able to digest everything that happened and we seem like a completely new and more confident team."

Though no one would say it overtly, the issue was chemistry. Pascua was red carded vs. Cal State Bakersfield on Sept. 12 and suspended by rule for the next game. Nagamine elected not to take her for the two-game road trip to UNLV and Nevada, and the career 10-goal scorer was not present upon the team’s return to practice Wednesday.

"I can’t really comment on (that) any further," Nagamine said. "But it’s an ongoing process and now I don’t expect her to rejoin the team for the remainder of the season."

Starting goalkeeper Monk Berger also missed that trip, but has progressed from her concussion-like symptoms of last week and will likely play today, Nagamine said, possibly in a shared role with reserves Erica Young and Alexis Mata.

The Seasiders are coming off a 1-1 draw with Hawaii Hilo last Saturday. From the sound of it, they will be no pushover. The Wahine saw them in the spring.

"BYU(H) is always a very physical, very determined team," Nagamine said. "And I think it’s going to be a pretty intense game. They’re a very good side and I’m expecting a very good game, a very hard battle."

The alumnae exhibition, meanwhile, pits the current Wahine against their predecessors. It’s usually a chance for Nagamine to dip into the bench a little more.

"It’s fun, definitely, and it’s also competitive because there’s alumnae coming back and of course they want to beat the young ones," co-captain Storm Kenui said. "(It’s) fully energy, full speed."