HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine soccer coach Michele Nagamine announced that eight high school seniors have signed commitments to join the University of Hawai'i women's soccer team this fall. This year's class boasts players from Arizona, California, Washington, as well as one of the top homegrown talents in the state of Hawai'i.
 
"The one word that I would use to describe our 2018 recruiting class is hungry," Nagamine said.  "This group has a mentality and desire to make us better and they're coming to Hawai'i with their eyes wide open. They fully understand the unique challenges we face in order to just be competitive and they're not afraid of how hard they're going to have to work in order to help us achieve our team goals."
 
2018 Rainbow Wahine Soccer Recruiting Class
Natalie Daub | 5-6 | D | Redmond, Wash.| Redmond HS | Crossfire Academy
Claire Jo Diede | 5-8 |F | Everett, Wash.| King's HS | Crossfire Academy
Lauren Marquez | 5-6 |GK | Glendale, Ariz.| Deer Valley HS | SC del Sol
Kailey Meyer | 5-8 | GK | Lafayette, Calif. |Campolindo HS |Walnut Creek SC
McKenzie Moore| 5-7 | M/F | Corona, Calif. | Santiago HS | Legends FC
Elena Palacios | 5-10 | D | Mountain View, Calif. | Mountain View HS | MVLA SC
Kayla Ryan | 5-5 | F/D | San Jose, Calif. | Valley Christian HS | California Thorns FC
Daelenn Tokunaga | 5-7 |F | Pearl City, O'ahu | Pearl City HS | Hawaii Surf SC
 
Natalie Daub | 5-6 | D | Redmond, Wash. | Redmond HS | Crossfire Academy
Plays for Crossfire Academy, a perennial top 10 program in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL)…member of squad that advanced to the ECNL final four for four straight years…helped Crossfire's U18 squad to a runner-up national finish…team also won four straight ECNL league titles…club teammate with fellow UH recruit Claire Jo Diede…also garnered all-KingCo honorable mention three straight years while competing for Redmond High School.
 
Nagamine on Daub:  "Natalie is athletic and has the ability to get up and down the field with ease.  She is not afraid to put a tackle on someone and I love the fact that she can help us start our attack from the back."
 
Claire Jo Diede | 5-8 |F | Everett, Wash. | King's HS | Crossfire Academy
A two-all conference selection at King's High School in Seattle…also named to the 1A all-state second team as a junior after leading the team in assists…part of the 2016 state champion basketball team…plays for Crossfire Academy, a perennial top 10 ECNL program…helped Crossfire's U18 squad to a runner-up national finish…scored seven goals in 12 matches…club teammate with fellow UH recruit Natalie Daub…prior to Crossfire, an ODP player and member of the Rush national team
 
Nagamine on Diede: "CJ is a dynamic attacker who is versatile in the positions she can play.  Her tactical understanding of the game combined with her technical ability allows her to be creative on the ball and helps her fill dual roles of both playmaker and goal scorer."
 
Lauren Marquez | 5-6 |GK | Glendale, Ariz. | Deer Valley HS | SC del Sol
Plays club soccer for the SC del Sol US Soccer Development Academy program…has been the starting goalkeeper on the ECNL squad the last four years…helped U15 squad to the ECNL national semifinals and the U18 squad to a No. 4 national ranking…holds the club record for most clean sheets in a row, while also boasting a save percentage of 86 percent…starting keeper on Arizona's ODP regional team.
 
Nagamine on Marquez:  "Lauren is an experienced goalkeeper and technically is very sound. Her ability to play with her feet is superb. She also possesses a great read of the game and is stellar in her decision-making on the field. We're very excited to bring such a talented and intelligent young woman into our program."
 
Kailey Meyer | 5-8 | GK | Lafayette, Calif. |Campolindo HS |Walnut Creek SC
Played eight seasons for Walnut Creek SC, serving as a team captain for six of those years…helped team to back-to-back appearances in the State Cup finals…also a three-sport athlete at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif…played soccer, basketball and softball…part of the 2017 Norcal Champion basketball squad.
 
Nagamine on Meyer: "Kailey is a multi-sport athlete eager to train and compete at the Division I level. She embraces the goalkeeping position in all aspects: she's a strong communicator, has solid catching techniques, and shows good shot-stopping abilities. She's also a very aggressive and fierce player who will bring a lot of passion to our 2018 squad."
 
McKenzie Moore| 5-7 | M/F | Corona, Calif. | Santiago HS |Legends FC
A two-time all-conference selection for Santiago High School in Corona, Calif.…part of dominant high school program that didn't lose a single league match and won the league title in each of her four years…tallied 30 goals and 34 assists in 105 career matches…also played for Legends FC….held club capture the 2015 national championship in Tulsa, Okla…scored 83 goals and had 88 assists in more than 200 career matches with Legends…mother Michelle played collegiate basketball for CSUN.
 
Nagamine on Moore: "Kenzie has a great combination of size and athleticism.  She is a natural winger with the ability to service a variety of balls from the flank with both feet.  She's also capable of scoring goals, which makes her a constant threat to the opposing team."
 
Elena Palacios | 5-10 | D | Mountain View, Calif. |Mountain View HS | MVLA SC
A three-time all-league defender for Mountain View High School in California…earned first team honors as a junior and senior…has led team to three straight league title as well as a pair of CIF Central Coast Section championships…as a senior, has scored two goals from her defender position as her team is 16-1 and currently ranked 13th nationally by MaxPreps…plays club soccer for MVLA 00G MAN U ECNL.
 
Nagamine on Palacios: "Elena is the truest center back we've recruited. Her height is going to give us a great presence in the air and she is calm, clean and composed with her distribution out of the back." 
 
Kayla Ryan | 5-5 | F/D | San Jose, Calif. | Valley Christian HS | California Thorns FC
A four-year starter for Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif...did not miss a start during her entire career, while playing in the back line…an all-West Catholic Athletic League pick in 2017…also served as a team captain…played club soccer for California Thorns FC (De Anza Force ECNL)….also an accomplished swimmer…competed at the Junior Olympic level in the breaststroke.
 
Nagamine on Ryan: "Kayla is a talented multi-sport athlete and fierce competitor who is always wiling to do whatever helps the team.  She is well-liked by her coaches and teammates and has a deep desire to find ways to challenge herself to be the best she can be."
 
Daelenn Tokunaga | 5-7 |F | Pearl City, O'ahu | Pearl City HS | Hawaii Surf SC
One of the most prolific goal scorers in the state of Hawai'i while playing for Pearl City High School on O'ahu… has scored close to 80 goals during her four-year career…as a sophomore scored 26 goals while helping the Chargers to their first state crown in nearly 20 years…has scored close to 40 combined goals in her junior and senior campaigns…a three-time all-state and all-league pick…two-time OIA West Player of the Year and the state's 2016 Offensive Player of the Year by ScoringLive…also a two-time HHSAA all-tournament selection, including 2016 Most Outstanding Player honors…member of the Hawaii Surf soccer club...led club to the 2016 Surf Cup championship…older brothers Tyler and Tanner play collegiate baseball at Hawai'i Pacific University.
 
Nagamine on Tokunaga: "Daelenn has the ability to be a crowd favorite at Waipio Soccer Stadium.  She has a scary combination of speed, size and skill and she's been one of the most prolific goal scorers in the state during her high school career.  Her ability to play with both her back to goal and get behind defenses with her speed causes fits for defenders."