LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Hawai’i women’s soccer team opened its 2025 season with a 2-1 loss in a nonconference match at Long Beach State Thursday, falling after a goal in the final minutes of the match.
The two teams played to a 1-1 tie through 87 minutes in their season opener, but with 87:59 on the clock a yellow card was given to a UH player resulting a free kick from about 15 yards outside the box. The Beach’s Natelle El Mokbel headed in the free kick to put LBSU ahead for good with just two minutes to play.
UH dropped to 0-4 all-time when starting a season on the road while falling in the first road match of the season for the fifth consecutive season.
The Beach got the scoring started with a goal in the 15th minute, but the Rainbow Wahine came right back with the equalizer six minutes later.
After sitting out all of last year, Leila Kahoano found the back of the net in her first appearance in a Hawai’i uniform to make it 1-1 at the 20:02 mark. Kahoano got the feed just outside the box from Krista Peterson in traffic and finished off her right foot in the bottom left corner of the goal to put UH on the board in 2025.
On the board in 2025 ‼️
Leila Kahoano ties it up in her UH debut with a goal in the 21st minute!#SISTAHHOOD x #GoBows pic.twitter.com/oZ5ukhTLlQ
— Hawaii Soccer (@HawaiiWSoccer) August 15, 2025
The ‘Bows withstood a number of LBSU attacks in the second half as Hawai’i fended off seven shot attempts before The Beach’s 16th and final attempt found the back of the net on El Mokbel’s game-winner.
Hawai’i got a good look at a number of players in the 2025 opener as 22 Rainbow Wahine saw action, including both goalkeepers. Only defender Rikako Hayami was on the field for all 90 minutes while 21 of the 22 players saw at least 15 minutes of action.
The Rainbow Wahine wrap up their season opening road trip Sunday at Pepperdine at 9 a.m. HT.
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