HONOLULU – The Hawai'i soccer team will close out the 2025 season when it hosts UC Irvine for Senior Night on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Waipi'o Soccer Stadium.
After falling Sunday at CSU Bakersfield, the Rainbow Wahine were eliminated from contention for the Big West Championship as they currently sit in a tie for seventh in the conference with 10 points, five behind the sixth-place Anteaters. The top six teams in the final regular season standings qualify for the postseason tournament. UH trails the all-time series against UCI, 11-2-2, but tied last year's meeting 0-0 in Irvine.
HEAD COACH MICHELE NAGAMINE
At Hawai'i: 90-122-33 (14th season)
Collegiate Record: 114-152-34 (17th year)
SERIES VS. UC IRVINE
Overall: UCI leads, 11-2-2
Last Meeting: Oct. 13, 2024 (Tied, 0-0)
Streak: T1
ON THE PITCH
DID YOU KNOW?
The Rainbow Wahine have shut out their opponents in the second half in nine of the last 11 matches dating back to Sept. 11. UH has given up just six second-half goals all season and is 4-0-7 on the season when shutting out an opponent in the second half.
FOR THE SENIORS
Following Thursday's match, the Rainbow Wahine will recognize a group of 10 seniors with the customary postgame ceremony. UH's senior class has combined for 413 career matches played with 265 starts between them. Eight of the 10 seniors were a part of last season's Big West regular season title winning team while five of the seniors played in at least 50 career matches in a Hawai'i uniform.
Senior Night Honorees
Eve Bleam
Caroline Carter
Brianna Chirpich
Amber Gilbert
Rikako Hayami
Wakaba Kogure
Penny Noland
Julia Ortega
Krista Peterson
Cate Sheahan
A LITTLE TIED UP
Hawai'i enters the season finale match vs. UC Irvine tied for third nationally in draws on the season with eight, as one of 10 teams in the country with at least that many ties. UH has also doubled the previous program single-season record for ties that was set in 2019 and 2008. After playing to a 1-1 tie vs. Eastern Washington on Sept. 11, the Rainbow Wahine posted three straight scoreless draws, including a pair of 0-0 ties in their first two Big West matches at Long Beach State and vs. UC Santa Barbara. UH then closed out its most recent road trip by coming back from three goals down at halftime to secure a 3-3 draw at UC Riverside on Oct. 5 before tying UC San Diego, 1-1, on Oct. 12. On the year, UH has played to three 0-0 ties, two 1-1 ties, two 2-2 ties and one 3-3 draw.
SECOND HALF SURGES
The Rainbow Wahine have put together some of their best play in the second half of matches throughout nonconference play. UH has allowed just seven of its 27 goals given up on the season in the second half, outscoring teams 12-7 after halftime. Hawai'i has pitched 12 second-half shutouts this season - with all but one of those either resulting in ties or wins. Additionally, UH has come back to secure four ties this season when trailing going into the break - in three of those instances the 'Bows were behind by multiple goals.
» The 'Bows have shut out their opponents in the second half in nine of the last 11 matches.
» Erased a 1-0 halftime deficit to secure a draw in a 1-1 tie vs. UC San Diego on Oct. 12.
» Came back from down 3-0 at halftime at UC Riverside on Oct. 5 to secure a 3-3 draw.
» Rally at UC Riverside marked the first time in school history that UH erased a three-goal deficit to either tie or win a match.
» Trailed 2-0 at Pepperdine on Aug. 17 but came back to tie with a pair of second-half scores.
» Fell behind 2-0 vs. California Baptist on Aug. 31 and scored twice in the final 25 minutes to tie.
A STEADY PRESENCE
Midfielder
Izzy Ayala has been a constant presence on the pitch for the Rainbow Wahine all season, leading the team with 1,644 minutes played. The junior has played all 90 minutes in each of the last 12 matches, and has been on the field for the entire match 14 times this year. Ayala has played 96.1 percent of the possible minutes this year, spending just 66 total minutes on the bench all season and is the only player on the team to start all 19 matches.
» Heads into Thursday's match having played 1,092 consecutive minutes dating back to the Sept. 4 match at Sacramento State.
» Also has scored a single-season career-high seven points, scoring two goals while recording three assists.
» Put UH on the board with an early goal in Sunday's 2-1 loss at CSU Bakersfield.
» Scored third career goal in a draw vs. California Baptist on Aug. 31, putting UH on the board in the second half.
