Wahine soccer 2018 schedule set
Michele Nagamine’s young team will be put to the test right from the jump in the upcoming 2018 season.
UH opens its 19-game 2018 slate against powerhouse Texas A&M in the Outrigger Soccer Kickoff at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium on Aug. 17, UH announced Wednesday. The Aggies finished last season No. 7 in RPI and were ranked No. 12. They advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Facing the Aggies would be a challenge under just about any circumstance. But these Rainbow Wahine finished last in last place in the Big West in 2017 (1-6-1) and have only two seniors — Raisa Strom-Okimoto and Sarah Lau — back this fall. (Starting goalkeeper Alexis Mata is being classified as a fourth-year junior.)
Nagamine told the Star-Advertiser that A&M figures to be the toughest test on the schedule by far.
“I’m very happy with the challenging schedule we have been able to put together for 2018,” Nagamine said in UH’s release. “Opening with a powerhouse like Texas A&M will be an excellent opportunity for our young team to experience a quality side that is always one of the top teams in the country. With regard to our road games, it’s nice that we get to return to teams like Saint Mary’s, University of the Pacific, Nevada, and University of San Francisco.”
Other notable nonconference home matches include Arizona State (Aug. 24) and future Big West member UC San Diego (Sept. 7).
The Wahine, who will again attempt to make their first Big West tournament, open league play at UC Irvine on Sept. 28. The first of four conference home games is Long Beach State on Oct. 4.
Schedule
RECORD: 9-7-1, 4-4 Big West| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | TIME/RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/17 | Texas A&M | WPSS | L, 4-0 |
| 8/19 | Bowling Green | WPSS | W, 1-0 OT |
| 8/22 | Montana | WPSS | CCL |
| 8/24 | Arizona State | WPSS | CCL |
| 8/30 | at Saint Mary's (Calif.) | Moraga, Calif. | W, 2-1 OT |
| 9/2 | at Pacific (Calif.) | Stockton, Calif. | W, 5-0 |
| 9/7 | UC San Diego | WPSS | L, 2-1 |
| 9/13 | at Nevada | Reno, Nev. | T, 1-1 2OT |
| 9/16 | at San Francisco | San Francisco | L, 2-0 |
| 9/22 | North Dakota State | WPSS | W, 2-0 |
| 9/23 | Grand Canyon | WPSS | W, 4-0 |
| 9/28 | at UC Irvine* | Irvine, Calif. | L, 1-0 2OT |
| 9/30 | at Cal State Northridge* | Northridge, Calif. | W, 2-1 OT |
| 10/4 | Long Beach State* | WPSS | L, 3-2 |
| 10/7 | UC Davis* | WPSS | W, 3-2 |
| 10/19 | at Cal Poly* | San Luis Obispo, Calif. | W, 4-0 |
| 10/21 | at UC Santa Barbara* | Santa Barbara, Calif. | L, 1-0 |
| 10/25 | UC Riverside* | WPSS | W, 2-0 |
| 10/28 | Cal State Fullerton* | WPSS | L, 2-1 |
| Home matches played at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium | |||
| All times Hawaii time; schedule subject to change * — Big West match |
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Thinks we might have to think bigger, faster, smarter players. Love kids here(in the U.S.), but what about some international players as well, where fütbol is their national sport…?