UC Irvine sent Hawaii into the soccer offseason in fitting fashion.
The Rainbow Wahine absorbed one last defeat, 2-0 at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium on Thursday’s senior night, to complete a run of futility through the Big West Conference season.
The eighth straight defeat for UH (3-14-1, 0-8 BW) set a single-season record. The 14 losses tied a program worst and it was the second time in the 22 years of collegiate competition that the Wahine failed to record a win or draw in conference play.
“It’s just been such a long season,” UH coach Michele Nagamine said. “I think I can speak for everyone when I say we love competing, but we’re really glad to put this one to bed. We’re already going to start working for the next spring season and really try to make sure we address a lot of the shortcomings in our offseason so we can ensure this kind of season just doesn’t happen again.”
It was a ignominious season with a suspension to a key player and a number of debilitating injuries.
That wasn’t to say the Wahine — already eliminated from the Big West tournament weeks ago — didn’t try to end the year with a positive result. They were outshot throughout (15-6) by the Anteaters (7-10-1, 3-4), but it was scoreless through the 83rd minute.
Suddenly, forward Kiana Palacios got loose for a breakaway counterattack goal past keeper Erica Young, one of UH’s four outgoing players.
Palacios then scored on a header in the 88th minute to clinch the victory.
Tiana Fujimoto, Lidia Battaglia, Amanda Bates and Young were traditionally honored afterward.
“It was amazing. It’s just a bittersweet feeling right now,” said Fujimoto, who leaves as the fifth-highest scorer in program history. “I wish it wasn’t over, but I know the team will do good next season and they’re going to build off this season.”
Battaglia, a four-year starter on defense, had a hamstring injury but was announced in the starting lineup. Irvine kicked the ball out of bounds right away to allow her to wave at her family on her way off the field.
“It was very emotional. It was pretty cool though, being able to come full circle,” Battaglia said. “Being here freshman year and hearing my name for the first time was a pretty exhilarating feeling, and hearing it for the last time as a senior was almost the same feeling but a lot sadder.”
Irvine’s seniors were honored as well, including defender Shauna Salcido, who was born in Hawaii and moved to California when she was 5. She had friends and family cheering her on.
“I’ve worked hard all my life playing soccer and they’ve never seen me play before, so it was nice to end my soccer career out here in front of them,” Salcido said. “Was really nice of (the Wahine) during their senior night.”
Bates, a reserve, also received playing time late in the game.
“We had a young team and most of the team is returning next year,” Nagamine said. “We’re going to stick to it and we’ll be better. We’ll be back.”
