Hawaii soccer: Raisa Strom-Okimoto, Addie Steiner meet on the NWSL field

Last weekend, former Hawaii soccer standouts Raisa Strom-Okimoto and Addie Steiner made their respective debuts in the National Women’s Soccer League.

On Friday, the two former Rainbow Wahine met on the field of play as opponents, marking the first time two UH alumna played in a game in the NWSL (the women’s equivalent of MLS).

Steiner’s Seattle Reign came to Salt Lake City to take on Strom-Okimoto’s Utah Royals FC. Both came on as reserves in the Reign’s 2-0 road victory.

Steiner played 34 second-half minutes, recording a shot on goal, while Strom-Okimoto got in for the final 14 and got off a shot. It was the most action of the two — who are National Team Replacements for others for the Women’s World Cup — by far in the NWSL.

Anticipating the possibility, UH coach Michele Nagamine and her assistants Marc Fournier and Rachael Doyle attended the match in the midst of a recruiting trip.

“History was made tonight!” Nagamine messaged Hawaii Warrior World.

The Reign (4-1-5) and Royals (5-3-2) are two of the top three teams in the nine-team NWSL. Steiner and Strom-Okimoto were fellow first-teamers in the Big West in 2016. Strom-Okimoto finished her four-year career sixth all-time in goals scored with 22. Steiner netted eight during her lone season in Manoa as a Northwestern transfer.