WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Two goals in the final 11 minutes powered the University of Hawai'i women's soccer team to a dramatic 3-2 season-opening victory over Georgia Southern on Thursday in the OUTRIGGER Soccer Kickoff at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (1-0) trailed 2-1 when sophomore Tatum Porter scored her first collegiate goal off an assist from freshman Alice Davidson in the 80th minute. The 'Bows took their first lead of the season when freshman Nalani Damacion converted Jacey Jicha's free kick into the go-ahead goal in the 86th minute. The 'Bows held off the Eagles to win their season opener for the first time since 2017.
 
Georgia Southern (0-1) struck first on a goal by Smith Cathey in the 14th minute, but UH senior Brynn Mitchell answered 1:11 later with the fifth goal of her UH career with the aid of Cate Sheahan's sixth assist.
 
The Eagles reclaimed the lead on a free kick with 17 minutes left in the first half and took a 2-1 lead into the break. The 'Bows kept the pressure on, ending with a 17-14 edge in shots, and tied the game when Davidson worked the ball into the box and fed Porter for the equalizer. Jicha then drew a foul and served her free kick to the front of the goal where Damacion was waiting to give UH the lead.
 
Junior Brianna Chirpich made six saves in her first career start and redshirt freshman Kennedy Justin closed out the final 1:38.

Damacion's goal was the first game-winner by a UH player with less than five minutes to play in regulation or overtime since 2019, when Kayla Ryan scored an overtime golden goal vs. CSUN. Damacion is also the first-ever Rainbow Wahine freshman to score a game-winning goal in a season opener. 
 
The season-opening tournament concludes on Sunday with the Rainbow Wahine facing Utah State at 2:30 p.m. at WPSS. Utah State defeated Pepperdine 4-0 in Thursday's tournament opener.