HONOLULU— The University of Hawai'i soccer team officially wrapped up its 2018 season with its annual awards banquet on Saturday night. 

 

Six awards and five student-athletes were recognized for their stellar effort on the field and in the classroom by head coach Michelle Nagamine and staff. 

 

Redshirt junior goalkeeper Alexis Mata picked up two awards on the night including the team's highest honor of the Coach Kat Award. The award is named after former coach Kathy Carey, and during her 23-year tenure, Carey held every job imaginable at UH. The new annual team award embodies the same spirit of selflessness and giving that Coach Kat bestowed upon the Rainbow Wahine Soccer Team.

 

Mata was also named for the Top Academic Award receipt as she notched the highest GPA on the team during the season while starting every game for UH in 2018. 

 

Junior midfielder Kiri Dale picked up the second academic award on the evening as she collected the Most Improved Academic Award. The award takes into consideration the semester GPAs ranging from Fall 2017 to Spring 2018, and Fall 2019.

 

Senior Raisa Strom-Okimoto, the reigning Big West Conference player of the year, was named the Outstanding Competitor receipt. Her play on the field and her leadership put UH in a position to make the Big West tournament for the first time in program history going into the final game of the season. The award was created for a student-athlete who portrayed the leadership and willingness to give her all as Strom-Okimoto showcased from summer camp to her last day wearing the No. 20 jersey for UH. 

 

The Most Improved Player Award as chosen by Nagamine and staff went to junior Mikaelah Johnson-Griggs. From 2017 through 2018, Johnson Griggs upped her goal and assists production and played in every game during her junior campaign, as well as starting 12 games. 

 

Freshman defender Elena Palacios added to her first-year on the island of O'ahu by being voted on by her teammates for the Newcomer Award. Palacios was named to the Big West All-Freshman team after the season. She started in all 17 matches for the 'Bows and was the only student-athlete on the roster to record over 1,500 minutes of action. 

 

UH will continue to build and look towards the 2019 season as its currently in the midst of their spring schedule with two games remaining, including Mar. 8 vs. the University of British Columbia and Mar. 15 vs. Toyo University. 

#HawaiiWSoccer