HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's soccer team is primed and ready to go as their 2024 season is days away from getting started. And they are hungry.
Last year, the Silverswords were a force to be reckoned with. Putting together their third straight seven-win season in 2023 where they finished fifth in the Pacific West Conference standings, their highest-ever finish, the 'Swords handed Point Loma its final defeat of 2023 before the Sea Lions won the NCAA Division II national championship. They also upset No. 5 Concordia University Irvine – their first win over a nationally ranked opponent – and forced a draw against 25th-ranked University of Hawai'i Hilo.
Using the momentum at the end of 2023 along with their extra practices as a prelude to their trip to Japan in mid-July, the 'Swords are looking to even bigger events on the horizon, specifically the first PacWest Championships which will be held in Irvine, California, where the top four squads in the standings qualify. The tournament winner will receive the PacWest's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Regionals in November.
For head coach
Michelle Richardson, entering her 12th season, Chaminade's journey begins Saturday, hosting Lewis & Clark College in a 2:30 p.m. exhibition matchup at Saint Louis Field.
The Silverswords return nine starters from last season including two All-PacWest honorees in defender
Haley Mo'okini (San Gabriel, Calif./Gabrielino) and forward
Delaney Buntin (Vail, Ariz./Pima CC/Cienega HS). In all, 16 players from a year ago are back including defender
Lindsey Wilson (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani), the most tenured player on the 'Swords' roster who in her sixth year after utilizing a medical hardship year and a season-of-competition waiver due to COVID. Fellow seniors
Madelynne Knowd (Ramona, Calif./Ramona) and
Clara Slate-Liu (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada/Ecolè Alpha Secondary) also help with experience with a combined 69 total games played and 38 starts in their careers.
Known over the years for their stifling defense, Chaminade added scoring punch to its arsenal over the past two seasons, setting team single-season records for goals each year. Last season, Mo'okini tallied a season-high seven goals while
Kenna Kiefer (Vail, Ariz./Cienega) added four more. Buntin and
Savannah Breeze Miranda (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Aiea) provided three each.
While the 'Swords have plenty of offensive firepower, a key vacancy will be replacing arguably the finest goalkeeper in program history. Gone is
Naomi Takata, who practically rewrote the entire Chaminade record book for goalies, setting career marks in wins, shutouts, goals against average, among others.
To try and replace her, the 'Swords have returnee
Jordhan Kieres (Lakewood, Ohio/Bellermine Univ./Lakewood HS) who is entering her third year with the team, and freshman
Izabella Holly (Tucson, Ariz./Cienega). Whomever gets the call, that keeper will be the first since 2018 other than Takata, who never missed a minute in her five-year career, to step in front of the net.
Following Saturday's exhibition, the 'Swords will head to Nampa, Idaho, for a tournament hosted by Northwest Nazarene. Their first matchup will be Sept. 5 against No. 10 Colorado Mesa. They will also face Minot State and host NNU.
Chaminade returns home for non-conference tilts against UH Hilo (Sept. 21) and at Hawai'i Pacific University (Sept. 25) before opening PacWest action on Oct. 1 against Dominican University of California.
The team's lone conference road trip takes them to southern California in late October at CUI, PacWest newcomer Vanguard, Azusa Pacific and Point Loma.
The Silverswords will close out the regular season with Aloha Senior Day against HPU on Nov. 2 then on the Big Island against UH Hilo on Nov. 9. The PacWest Championships begin Nov. 14.
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.
