Although many will choose to look at the overall picture when looking back at the 2019 season for the Chaminade University women's soccer team, a closer examination will reveal just how close they were to being in the upper echelons of the Pacific West Conference.
Five of the Silverswords' losses were by one goal to go along with their record three ties. Their three wins are tied for second-most in program history as the building into being a conference contender continues under
Michelle Richardson, the team's all-time winningest coach who completed her seventh year.
"It was a year of progress and growth for our program," Richardson said. "We have taken great strides on and off the field towards achieving our goals. We had a young team with great potential and strong character."
The 'Swords definitely showed plenty of ability to hang with the best. Against island rivals Hawai'i Pacific and Hawai'i Hilo, they forged two non-conference ties and lost the conference matchups by one goal each; against Azusa Pacific, an annual contender, they lost on a goal in the waning minutes; and they battled in a one-goal defeat to nationally ranked Dallas Baptist in the season opener. DBU ended up finishing its season 17-1-3 with a berth in the South Central Regional.
But there were celebratory moments as well. A 2-1 win over Notre Dame de Namur which represented the team's first-ever win against the Argonauts. Chaminade also blanked Academy of Art which was the third-highest goal-scoring team in the PacWest.
Much of their success was through a solid defense which surrendered a record-low 1.50 goals per game. Freshman goalkeeper
Naomi Takata (Honolulu/Pearl City) proved to be as good as advertised after a sensational rookie season that saw her post four clean sheets and a 1.43 goals against average, both single season records.
Senior defender
Kirstin Wong (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Aliso Niguel) anchored the team's center-backs while adding a scoring punch to her arsenal. After going without a point through her first three years, she became a dangerous scorer with two goals and four assists. Her eight points was second-highest on the team, all while continuing to serve as a 90-minute plug-and-play contributor. She finished her career playing by not only starting her final 33 matches but played 3,143 consecutive minutes without having to be subbed out.
Fellow defenders
Kyla Takazono (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) and
Dayna Nishimura (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani), both sophomores, each started all 14 games for the 'Swords as did midfielders
Jordan Taboniar (Anahola, Kaua'i, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) and Brenna-Leigh Bactista (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani).
On the offensive side,
Randi Fontes (Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawai'i/ Hawai'i-Manoa/Pearl City HS) continued to find success. For the second consecutive year, she earned All-PacWest Third Team honors after leading the Silverswords in points (9) and goals (4). Her eight career goals rank third in program history, just three behind
Twyla Hamasaki (11) for second.
Asya Holt (Honolulu/Roosevelt) was a fine complement at striker with two goals while senior
Cailla Fabro (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Idaho State/Pearl City HS) became the program's all-time assist leader with five and also had her first collegiate goal early in the season.
Chaminade was also the victim of bad luck as injuries plagued them towards the end of the season. Fabro and
Sharon Cain (Honolulu/Kamehameha-Kapalama) were lost for the final three games due to injury.
However other freshmen received valuable experience and playing time including
Camryn Cabudol (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell),
Alyssa Francia (Surprise, Ariz./Shadow Ridge),
Kira Nishiki (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) and
Lindsey Wilson (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) who accounted for 24 starts between them.
"We are so proud of our graduating seniors and thank them for the legacy they left behind," Richardson reflected. "We are confident this team will build on those successes and take this program to the next level in the years to come."
