Soccer begins anew

Another year, another crack at history.

The Hawaii soccer team held its first fall practice of 2018 on Wednesday, and its usual fitness test, in preparation for what it hopes will be a breakout year with a heavily remade roster.

Fitness testing went well, eighth-year coach Michele Nagamine said on the artificial turf of T.C. Ching Field.

“This is one of the most well-prepared teams I’ve seen,” she said, noting power and agility drill results. “With 10 freshmen, it’s going to be pretty exciting.

“The incoming class is one of the most athletic we’ve had. They’ve got a high soccer IQ, they’ve been well coached, they’ve prepared and played club at a very high level.”

Height was also an attribute she sought.

“I always feel short in the huddle, but now I feel really short.”

The road to success figures to run uphill, as usual.

Every Big West season to this point (2017: 1-6-1; 2016: 2-5-1; 2015: 0-8; 2014: 2-5-1; 2013: 3-4-1; 2012: 3-5-1) has been an exercise in frustration. UH has still never qualified for the four-team conference tournament, its closest effort coming in 2013. The last few years, the Rainbow Wahine haven’t been close.

Of its 15 goals scored in 2017, six were by players still here: Raisa Strom-Okimoto (three); Sarah Lau; Mikaelah Johnson-Griggs; and Leialoha Medeiros.

Nagamine has just two seniors (Strom-Okimoto and Lau) this season, which begins Aug. 17 against powerhouse Texas A&M.

UH has already experienced hardship, losing two players — Tia Furuta and Sadie Lutz — for the fall because of ACL tears on the last day of the spring season, in the same exhibition vs. Hawaii Pacific. Furuta had shown promise toward becoming the team’s next productive forward. Now that title is up for grabs, too.

UH’s total roster numbers (23) were already smaller than usual. That includes Long Beach State transfer Madison Moore, a Kauai native who must redshirt as a pickup from within the conference.

“I think after you lose an offensive presence like Sonest Furtado, you’re searching for who’s up next,” Nagamine said. “Unfortunately … our roster is very intimate. We have 17 (available) field players and three goalkeepers, so that means everyone is gonna make an impact. And finding that offensive presence … we have a number of kids who can step in right away, I believe.”

Pearl City alumna Daelenn Tokunaga, an All-State forward, is the lone local girl among the freshmen. The rest are: Natalie Dixon (D); Natalie Daub (D); Elena Palacios (D); McKenzie Moore (M/F); Lauren Marquez (GK); Kayla Ryan (D); Morgan Meza (D); Claire Jo Diede (F); and Kailey Meyer (GK). Another newcomer is redshirt sophomore Jenna Williams, a midfielder.