HONOLULU — Building connections within the roster and strengthening bonds with a community continuing to rebuild headline the agenda for the University of Hawai'i women's soccer team's opening week of training camp.
A team in constant motion, the Rainbow Wahine began formal preparations for the 2024 season on Wednesday at their off-campus practice home and will spend their first weekend of camp on Maui, where they'll hold a training session at Lahainaluna High School on Saturday.
The public is invited to watch the practice scheduled for 4-6 p.m. UH head coach
Michele Nagamine will hold a coaches clinic while associate head coach
Kaula Rowe and assistant coaches
Daniel Saucedo and
Num Tindle run the Rainbow Wahine through their on-field drills. The 'Bows will close the practice with a Green-and-White scrimmage followed by a meet-and-greet and autograph session with fans.
The trip comes nearly a year after the wildfires that devastated Lahaina and amid continuing recovery efforts in the West Maui community.
"The main objective for us was to try to spread the aloha to an island and all these people who have been through so much," Nagamine said.
The trip will also take two members of the roster —
Penny Noland and
Leila Kahoano — back to their home island.
"The community is so proud of them, so getting to see them in action on their home turf is going to be really special," Nagamine said.
"Building the perspective, building gratitude, building appreciation and building connection, those are the things I really look forward to. The bonding will happen organically because we will be creating memories that are going to last a lifetime."
The Rainbow Wahine held their first official practice of the season on Wednesday at Mid-Pacific Institute, their training site throughout the season while construction continues on the new soccer and track-and-field facility on the UH Lower Campus.
The 'Bows return 15 letterwinners, including nine starters, from a 2023 team that qualified for the Big West tournament for the second time since joining the conference and the first time since 2019. The group includes three players who earned All-Big West honors last season in forward
Amber Gilbert (first team), defender
Jacey Jicha (second team) and midfielder
Izzy Ayala (freshman team).
"We won't lack for leadership this year," Nagamine said. "We have a lot of trust and a lot of unity. So those intangibles really complement the Xs and Os."
The 'Bows will also work to blend the talents of five true freshmen and five transfers into the rotation.
"Even though they're young and new, they're very savvy," Nagamine said of the newcomers. "They've got high soccer IQs and the athleticism is honestly through the roof."
The 'Bows will have two weeks of practice before opening the season against Georgia Southern on Aug. 15 in the OUTRIGGER Kickoff at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium. They'll cap the tournament against Utah State on Aug. 18.
#HawaiiWSOC
