There’s a new buzzword around the University of Hawaii soccer office and practice field: intimate.
As in, UH and its intimate roster take on a national powerhouse tonight, No. 11 Texas A&M, to open the 2018 season out at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
The Rainbow Wahine have, at the most, 17 field players available for the season, and must play 10 at any given moment. The available count is 15 this weekend because of two minor injuries.
“I think the word ‘intimate’ has taken on all of the meanings,” eighth-year coach Michele Nagamine said. “ ‘Intimate’ can mean small, and ‘intimate’ can mean close. That pretty much summarizes our team.”
The Wahine are coming off a 6-10-1 (1-6-1 Big West) season and are projected to finish last for the third time in four years by the league’s coaches.
UH, which feels like it bonded quickly considering its count of 10 incoming freshmen, will likely give most of its first-year players significant time against a vastly more experienced foe.
A&M’s returnees account for 34 (of 46) goals from last season, compared to UH’s six (of 15). The visitors have a former U-20 national team player and All-SEC performer in forward Ally Watt. They made it to the NCAA College Cup second round for the 19th straight time.
“They’re No. 11 for a reason, and that’s what they did last season. And we have the ranking that we have because of what we did last season,” Nagamine said. “So we’re in the same boat.
“We are going to be prepared for whatever is thrown at us. The kids are an extremely resilient bunch.”
UH is thin, in part, because of a brutal spring. Forward Tia Furuta and defender Sadie Lutz, two expected contributors, went down with ACL injuries in the same exhibition vs. Hawaii Pacific. They will miss the full season.
Senior midfielder Raisa Strom-Okimoto, a two-time All-Big West first-teamer, scored three times in 2017 and is by far the team’s most decorated player after the Wahine lost first-team forward Sonest Furtado (seven goals) to graduation.
Strom-Okimoto and junior goalkeeper Alexis Mata are the captains, and the team’s only other senior, midfielder Sarah Lau, will also be looked to for leadership.
A notable newcomer is forward Daelenn Tokunaga, a two-time state champion at Pearl City and All-State performer with 80 career goals. She, sophomore Leialoha Medeiros and frosh Claire Jo (CJ) Diede are the new rotation up top.
“There’s TEN freshmen,” Medeiros said, noting it’s basically half the team. “Everyone’s kind of obsessing over (that). But they’re really mature and they’re not letting the pressure get to them.”
UH will start three freshmen — Natalie Dixon, Natalie Daub and Elena Palacios — in the back line, along with Cristina Drossos, a sophomore center back who qualifies as the veteran of the position.
The Wahine are not afraid to pack it in if necessary today.
“We’re working on keeping them in front, we’re going to deny those balls over top, and hopefully counterattack them,” Drossos said. “Make them cough up the ball, transition fast and get a goal.”
OUTRIGGER SOCCER KICKOFF
at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium
Today: Loyola Marymount vs. Bowling Green, 4:30 p.m.; No. 11 Texas A&M at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
Sunday: Loyola Marymount vs. No. 11 Texas A&M, 2:30 p.m.; Bowling Green at Hawaii, 5 p.m.
TV/Radio: None
Admission: Free
