A trying season doesn’t mean the Hawaii soccer team won’t keep trying.
The last-place Rainbow Wahine (3-11-1, 0-5 Big West) have no hope of qualifying for the four-team conference tournament with three regular-season games to play, including today’s contest at UC Davis. They still hope, however, to net their first road win of the season and avoid the ignominy of an oh-for-the-conference finish.
UH SOCCER
All times HST
>> Today: Hawaii (3-11-1, 0-5 Big West) at UC Davis (8-6-2, 1-3-1), 1 p.m.
>> Sunday: Hawaii at Long Beach State (8-5-3, 3-2), 3 p.m.
>> Live stats: ucdavisag gies.com, longbeach state.com |
"We have to go all out, basically," co-captain Tiana Fujimoto said. "Do what we can to get a win."
They have three games left to avoid a winless conference season. The last time that happened was 1997, when the Wahine were just second-year members of the WAC and went 0-5.
UH follows today’s match at Long Beach State on Sunday. The 49ers were ranked earlier in the season, when they beat UCLA 1-0, but lost both of their Big West games last week to drop out of first.
It seems like a completely different season now, but the Wahine gave No. 2 Stanford everything it wanted in a 2-1 Cardinal win in the 2015 season opener. Now, it’s certain senior night will conclude against UC Irvine next week.
"Our goal is to finish as strong as possible and try to get three wins in our last games," UH coach Michele Nagamine said. "Just make the most of a very trying, emotional season."
UH has gotten blitzed in some Big West games, but last Sunday’s 1-0 home loss to Cal State Northridge wasn’t one of them. The Wahine showed flashes of competitiveness throughout.
"I think they are naturally a group that still feels that they’re just scratching the level that they’re playing at," Nagamine said. "After getting a pretty good rhythm going against Northridge and watching film, people are seeing that. We’re in there with the best of the Big West."
The playing rotation has expanded lately with several starters "bus’ up," as the coach said. Senior defender Lidia Battaglia is "touch and go" with a hamstring pull.
A road win, or even a draw, would be something to treasure under the circumstances. UH is 0-6 on the mainland this year; and the program hasn’t gone winless on the road for a full season since 2000.
Fujimoto, a first-team all-conference player two seasons ago, has two goals this season, bringing her career total to 23 — fifth in program history. She didn’t want to think of the impending end of her career just yet, instead choosing to focus achieving a high point to the season with a road result or two.
"I think it would mean a lot to us. We haven’t won a road game yet, so I think this would be huge for us," Fujimoto said. "Winning two games on the road, that would be a great accomplishment for our season."
