HONOLULU – After kicking off the 2025 season on the road, Hawai’i opens its home slate with the OUTRIGGER Soccer Kickoff Thursday and Sunday at Waipi’o Soccer Stadium.
The Rainbow Wahine host Central Arkansas on Thursday at 7 p.m. before closing out the weekend with a matchup against Oregon on Sunday at 4 p.m. UH and Central Arkansas will be meeting for the first time ever while the ‘Bows lead the all-time series with the Ducks, 2-0-1.
HEAD COACH MICHELE NAGAMINE
At Hawai’i: 86-116-26 (14th season)
Collegiate Record: 110-146-27 (17th year)
SERIES VS. CENTRAL ARKANSAS
First Meeting
SERIES VS. OREGON
Overall: UH leads, 2-0-1
Last meeting: Aug. 19, 2016 (Tied, 1-1)
Streak: T1
ON THE PITCH
DID YOU KNOW?
Goalkeeper Kennedy Justin was named to the Hermann Trophy preseason watch list, which honors the collegiate soccer player of the year. Justin is one of only three keepers on the list and was also named a goalkeeper to watch by the United Soccer Coaches.
KICKING OFF 2025
The Rainbow Wahine began the 2025 season on the road, dropping Thursday’s opener at Long Beach State before battling back for a 2-2 draw at Pepperdine on Sunday. UH fell into an early 2-0 hole against the Waves but battled back with a pair of goals in the final 20 minutes. Cate Sheahan and Amber Gilbert each cashed in off of corner kicks, with Sheahan converting in the 71st minute and Gilbert coming through at the 77:41 mark. Leila Kahoano led the way offensively for the Rainbow Wahine through the first two matches, scoring a goal in Thursday’s match at The Beach and providing the assist on the first goal of Sunday’s draw at Pepperdine.
BATTLED BACK IN MALIBU
Hawai’i closed out its season opening road trip by fighting back to earn a 2-2 draw at Pepperdine on Sunday. The ‘Bows fell behind 2-0 in the first 20 minutes of the match but came roaring back late, scoring a pair of goals in the final 20 minutes to secure the tie. Cate Sheahan provided the first score, heading in a Leila Kahoano corner kick in the 71st minute to make it 2-1. Seven minutes later Amber Gilbert equalized, cashing in on another corner kick striking on an Alice Davidson pass at the top of the box to make it 2-2 at the 77:41 mark. Kennedy Justin entered at goalkeeper to start the second half and recorded four saves, including a leaping stop in the final minute to preserve the draw.
» The Rainbow Wahine earned the result against the defending West Coast Conference champions.
» Marked the first time since Aug. 31, 2012 that UH erased a multi-goal deficit to tie or win a match.
INSTANT IMPACT
In her first weekend in a Rainbow Wahine uniform, midfielder Leila Kahoano made an immediate impact scoring a goal while dishing out an assist for a team-leading three points. After joining the UH program and sitting out the entire 2024 season, Kahoano didn’t waste any time making her presence known scoring a game-tying goal in the 21st minute of Thursday’s season opener at Long Beach State. In Sunday’s 2-2 tie at Pepperdine Kahoano assisted on UH’s first goal of the match, delivering a perfect in-swinging corner kick in the 71st minute to cut the deficit in half.
» Started both matches at midfielder and totaled 77 minutes over the first two matches.
» One of five Big West players with both a goal and an assist on opening weekend.
» Began collegiate career at San Diego, playing one season for the Toreros in 2022.
NOT PAU YET…
Hawai’i has the luxury of leaning on a number of returnees from its 2024 Big West regular season title winning team. The Rainbow Wahine will welcome back 20 players from last year’s squad, including eight who started 15 or more matches. Additionally, 12 of those players played 500 or more minutes while 11 registered a point. UH also brings back over 60 percent of its production in most of the major statistical categories.
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