HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's soccer team opened their 2017 season in style Monday with a thrilling 2-1 non-conference win over Hawai'i Hilo at Saint Louis Field.
Makoto Shoji's (Okinawa, Japan/Rio Hondo College) goal in the first minute of overtime was the difference as the Silverswords (1-0) won their season-opener for just the second time in program history and first since 2009.
The victory also gave Chaminade head coach
Jayson Abe his sixth career win, tying him with Zach Kingsley (2014) for the most head coaching wins in program history.
Freshman
Tyler Ebisuya (Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Iolani) delivered the game-winning assist, dropping a pass to Shoji towards the right sideline. Shoji beat a defender then fired a shot past UH Hilo goalkeeper Nick Williams to send the Labor Day crowd home with smiles.
The 'Swords got on the board early with a
Nick Kraus (Torrance, Calif./South) penalty kick in the 13
th minute. UH Hilo (0-2) got the equalizer 17 minutes later on a goal from Bryan Reynoso.
With the score knotted at 1, both squads tightened their defenses with just eight combined shot attempts in the second half.
Bernd Buescherhoff (Steinfeld, Germany/Gymnasium Lohne) made four saves to pick up the victory. Williams made six in taking the loss.
The Silverswords return to the pitch Saturday they face Stanislaus State at the Waipio Soccer Complex. The Warriors are 0-1-1 this season and, despite trudging through a three-win season last year, were 15-game winners in 2015, earning a spot in the NCAA Championships.
