Honolulu—The University of Hawai'i soccer team will return to action this weekend after an 11-day layoff for its final regular season road trip of the season.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (7-5-1, 2-2 BWC) will visit Cal Poly on Friday, followed by UC Santa Barbara on Sunday as the program sits in a three-way tie for the No. 4 slot of the Big West Conference standings. With four matches remaining on the schedule, UH is still in a position to control the outcome of its season. Three of the next four matches remaining are with squads sitting in the bottom three positions of the conference standings, with one sitting in a tie with the 'Bows.
 
Going into action Friday, UH has positioned itself as one of the most efficient offensive clubs in the Big West. The 'Bows are at the bottom of the rankings in shots per match at 11.85, but are first in goals per game at 1.77, second in totals goals with 23, and third in totals points at 64. Only two other squads rank in the top three of each category with UH, one being Long Beach State, the other is Sunday's opponent, UCSB.
 
Leading the way offensively throughout the season for UH has been the midfield tandem of senior Raisa Strom-Okimoto and Leialoha Medeiros. The duo has accounted for 15 goals on the season, no other program within the Big West has a pair to combine for double-digits goals. Strom-Okimoto ranks No. 2 among goals scored with eight in 13 matches but is ranked No. 1 versus conference opponents accounting for three goals.
 
Friday's match against Cal Poly features a Mustangs team slotted at the bottom third of the Big West standings at the No. 8 position only one win this year in 16 tries. Historically UH has never knocked off Cal Poly in eight previous matchups. UH registered the first tie in the series history a season ago, with a 1-1 stalemate at home. 
 
As for UCSB, UH knocked off the Gauchos last year for their lone conference win at 2-1, putting UH at 7-5 disadvantage all-time in the series. But Sunday's match could have playoff implications, as the two are a part of the three-way tie for the fourth and final conference tournament spot. In a mirror comparison, both programs have wins over UC Davis, and losses to UC Irvine in double overtime. UCSB also features the only goal scorer to rank higher than Strom-Okimoto in Shaelan Murison with nine total goals, and tied at No. 1 versus conference opponents with three.
 
Match #14 Information:
TEAMS: Hawai'i (7-5-1), Cal Poly (1-11-4, 1-3-1)
WHEN:  Friday, Oct. 19, 2018
WHERE:  Alex G. Spanos Stadium
STREAM: BigWest.Tv
TICKETS: Adults $9, Senior $7, Youth $5
 
Match #15 Information:
TEAMS: Hawai'i (7-5-1), UC Santa Barbara (9-6-0, 2-2-0 BWC)
WHEN:  Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018
WHERE:  Harder Stadium
STREAM: BigWest.Tv
LIVE STATS: www. hawaiiathletics.com
TICKETS: Adult $9, Senior or Youth or Military $6