The time is finally arriving for the Chaminade University women's soccer team. After five long months of waiting, the Silverswords finally get to put foot to ball as they open their unusual 2021 spring season Saturday against Hawai'i Pacific University.
With four of their six goal-scorers from 2019 back, there is a sense of optimism for the Silveswords during the brief spring season.
The 'Swords return two-time All-Pacific West Conference forward
Randi Fontes (Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Hawai'i/Pearl City HS) and midfielder
Asya Holt (Honolulu/Roosevelt) who combined for six goals between them in '19. Also back is
Breanna-Leigh Bactista (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani), the team's lone four-year senior, a starter the past two seasons.
Five other 'Swords who played at least 10 matches in 2019 also return including
Sharon Cain (Honolulu/Kamehameha-Kapalama),
Kira Nishiki (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani),
Dayna Nishimura (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani),
Kyla Takazono (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) and
Lindsey Wilson (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani), which is welcome news for eighth-year head coach
Michelle Richardson.
Goalkeeper
Naomi Takata (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) had a stellar 2019 and is poised to make the leap to the next level. Her freshman season saw her tally four shutouts with a 1.43 goals against average, both program records.
Chaminade is also bolstered by several newcomers including Division I transfers
Jenna McLean (Snohomish, Wash./Cal State Bakersfield/Glacier Peak HS) and
Hoku Schatz (Hau'ula, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Idaho/Kahuku HS) as well as two who played at other PacWest schools.
Saige Kalani (Honolulu/Dominican, Calif./Pearl City HS) spent her freshman year at Dominican University of California while
Samantha Berryhill (Modesto, Calif./Notre Dame de Namur/Grace M. Davis HS) attended Notre Dame de Namur until the school shut down its athletics department this past summer.
Following Saturday's opener at HPU, the 'Swords will have their first home game on Saturday, March 27 against the University of Hawai'i Hilo at Saint Louis Field. Chaminade hosts HPU on Sunday, March 7 then closes the season on March 13 at UH Hilo.
Although the schedule is reduced to four matches, all results and statistics will count toward career records. The PacWest is the only conference on the west coast with most of its members having a semblance of a season. The CCAA and the GNAC – the other two West Region conferences – have cancelled their soccer seasons. Azusa Pacific is the only PacWest school to have opted out the spring soccer season.
And because all fall championships have been canceled, the NCAA has granted an extra year to all student-athletes, meaning all four Chaminade seniors have the option to return next season.
