HONOLULU – If the Chaminade University men's soccer team has a motto, it could very well be "There's nowhere to go but up."
When the Pacific West Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll was released on Monday, the Silverswords were looking up at the other 13 conference members.
The 'Swords are hoping for a good start when they open competition Saturday with an exhibition against Lewis & Clark College at Saint Louis Field which gets underway at noon.
There's plenty of optimism with the return of all three multi-goal scorers from a season ago.
Owen Caba (West Linn, Ore./West Linn),
Kainoa Carpenter (Kahului, Maui, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Maui) and
Owen Malone (Carlsbad, Calif./Univ. of Saint Katherine/Carlsbad HS) combined for seven goals while Caba also had a team-leading four assists.
The Silverswords also return 10 other field players including
Kala'i Duncan (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama),
La'akea Gonsalves (Anahola, Kaua'i, Hawai'i/Kapa'a),
Zach McClellan (San Marcos, Calif./San Marcos),
Kayden Medeiros (Pukalani, Maui, Hawai'i/Western Oregon Univ./Kamehameha-Maui HS),
Remo Merlo (Reno, Nev./Remo) and
Daniel Villalva (Chula Vista, Calif./La Sierra College/Otay Ranch HS), who combined for make 58 starts in 2023.
While there is plenty of firepower coming back, the 'Swords will need to replace
Brandon Yasue, a three-year starter at goalkeeper.
Jonah Valmonte (Poolesville, Md./Robert Morris University/Poolesville HS) is the incumbent candidate who made three starts in 2023. Josh Woodard, entering his third year as head coach, also brought in two more keepers in Stanislaus State transfer
Kili Chappell (Wailuku, Maui, Hawai'i/Stanislaus State/Baldwin HS) and freshman
James Boudiette (Tulsa, Okla./Jenks).
Chaminade's schedule is home-heavy to start with their first seven regular-season contests on O'ahu, six at Saint Louis Field. The final four home games of their home stand includes PacWest dates which begins Tuesday, Oct. 1 against Dominican University of California.
The 'Swords' first game off the island is Oct. 19 at Concordia University Irvine, their southern California opener.
The Silverswords' final home game is against in-city rival Hawai'i Pacific University on Nov. 2. For the first time starting this season, the PacWest is hosting a championship tournament with the top four teams in the standings earning bids. The tournament winner earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals, which starts on Nov. 21.
All Chaminade home games will be streamed via the new PacWest Network on a pay-per-view basis. Fans can purchase either single games or a season pass at a discounted rate.
