HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i soccer team opened up fall camp on Thursday, taking another step towards the start of the 2021 season.
 
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, soccer, women's volleyball, and cross country did not have a competitive season in 2020. Even though the Rainbow Wahine have not played a match since the first week of November, back in 2019, it doesn't mean the program hasn't been putting in the work.
 
UH did have a fall camp in 2020 and a spring camp in 2021, playing two closed scrimmages on campus in April. The 'Bows return 12 student-athletes from the 2019 roster who helped lead the program to its first-ever Big West Conference tournament bid. Of the 12, nine saw significant playing time and return with much-needed experience. Senior forward Kayla Ryan and junior midfielder Eliza Ammendolia return after receiving Big West First Team honors. Along with junior forward Kelci Sumida, who was named to the conference All-Freshmen squad.
 
With a roster of 28 and 12 being returners, the remaining 16 are new faces who be will be competing throughout camp. Five are true freshmen, with the 11 others either transferred to the program or with the team last fall in camp.
 
The 'Bows will officially start the season on Tuesday the 17th with an exhibition against Tusculum University followed by another exhibition against HPU on the 22nd. Both scrimmages will be played on Lower Campus at the grass practice fields. At this time, it's undetermined if fans can attend either of the two scrimmages. The first matches of the regular season will be in the Outrigger Soccer Kickoff, with matches against North Texas and South Dakota State on the 27th and 29th at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.