HONOLULU – The past two seasons have been nothing short of memorable for the Chaminade University women's soccer team. They've enjoyed two consecutive winning seasons – three if one includes their 1-0-3 mark in spring 2021 – a feat never before achieved since the program began in 2006.
Since the calendar turned to 2020, the Silverswords are 15-12-6. They are hoping that 2023 will mark yet another step forward as they look to contend for their first Pacific West Conference championship.
With one exhibition out of the way (a 3-0 win over Multnomah) and one more tune-up coming up, (Wednesday against Lincoln University), the Silverswords get started for real on Saturday against Northwest Nazarene, a squad that went 12-4-4 a year ago and finished second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
Anchored by record-setting goalkeeper
Naomi Takata, the fifth-year senior who is using her COVID year to restore a year of eligibility, has been a key reason for the 'Swords' success. Takata is hoping to carry over her banner 2022 where she set school records with six clean sheets and a 0.75 goals-against average, both of which ranked in the top three in the PacWest.
But Takata had help from a fantastic corps of defenders, paced by All-PacWest selection
Tehani Smith and
Lindsey Wilson. Like Takata, both are also in their fifth years.
Haley Mo'okini, a sophomore, started all 15 matches for Chaminade in the center-back spot last year.
Last season, the Silverswords also had capable finishers, tying a program record with 19 goals. With the departure of top scorer
Gracie Bowers (five goals, two assists) and multi-goal scorers in
Ruby Burroughs and
Asya Holt, the 'Swords still have second-team all-conference pick
Savannah Breeze Miranda, who had two game-winning goals.
Head coach
Michelle Richardson, who is entering her 11th season, landed forward Delany Buntin, a junior college All-American at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, where she scored 25 career goals. Buntin certainly did not disappoint in her first match in a CUH uniform, coming off the bench, and putting in two goals in the exhibition win over Multnomah.
Against the Lions, the Knowd sisters, Gracie and Madelynne got the nod as attackers as did
Clara Slate-Liu, Kenna Keifer and
Isabella Narvaez. In all, 23 players saw action in the exhibition including reserve goalkeeper
Jordhan Kieres, who played the second half to help preserve the shutout.
Following this weekend's competitions, the Silverswords will head to Gunnison, Colorado, for road games against Western Colorado and Fort Lewis College, both of whom Chaminade defeated last year in Durango, Colorado.
The schedule includes the traditional non-conference meetings against Hawai'i Hilo and Hawai'i Pacific and another against Stanislaus State in Hilo. The 'Swords open PacWest action on the road at Fresno Pacific on Sept. 25. Although the conference slate is road-heavy to start, the Silverswords will have the benefit of having six straight home matches to end the season.
