HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's soccer team will begin the 2025 season – its 20th as an intercollegiate program – on Sunday when they face Chico State University at the University of Hawai'i Hilo Soccer Field.
While the Silverswords lost six key players from a season ago, 15 are back, including six starters, from last year's 6-5-5 squad who enjoyed a sixth-place finish in the Pacific West Conference (5-3-3).
Kenna Kiefer (Vail, Ariz./Cienega),
Haley Mo'okini (San Gabriel, Calif./Gabrielino) and
Clara Slate-Liu (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada/Ecolè Alpha Secondary) each had four points for the 'Swords last season, tied for second on the squad.
Mo'okini enters her senior season as one of only four Silverswords with double-digits in career goals with 10 and needs just two to move past Twyla Hamasaki for third on the all-time goals list. Kiefer had a goal and two assists last season while Slate-Liu is using a season-of-competition waiver for a fifth year of athletic eligibility.
Madelynne Knowd (Ramona, Calif./Ramona) and
Kaila Levoit (Cypress, Calif./Golden West College/Cypress HS) started all 16 games last season while
Brynn Shimabukuro (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/South Dakota State/Aiea HS) had 11 starts.
Isabella Narvaez (Vail, Ariz./Cienega) was on the starting scorer's sheet eight times.
The 'Swords will also have a new starting goalkeeper with transfer
Maddie Merrick (Parker, Colo./Creighton University/Legend HS) and freshman
Esmeralda Capalad-Machuca (Sparks, Nev./Reed) battling it out for the nod.
Key members off the bench last season include
Lela Gi (Las Vegas/Liberty),
Shannon Healy (Gilbert, Ariz./Campo Verde),
Bailey Loria (Fontana, Calif./Aquinas),
Kierra Reid (St. George, Utah/Dixie),
Alexys Taira (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City),
Jayla Wise (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame HS) and
Bryana Yoshida (Makakilo, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Fresno Pacific University/Kapolei HS).
The team has 10 other newcomers including three who have previous collegiate playing experience.
Thirteenth-year head coach
Michelle Richardson, who has guided the program to a school-record five straight winning seasons, is looking to continue to raise the profile of the program by getting them into the PacWest's top four. That means qualifying for the conference championship tournament, which will be in mid-November at defending PacWest champion Point Loma.
Following Sunday's opener, the Silverswords return to Hilo on Thursday, Sept. 11 against Westminster of Utah. Their first home game at the Saint Louis Field pitch will be Saturday, Sept. 20 in their traditional non-conference meeting against UH Hilo. Following their first mainland trip of the season at Fresno Pacific and Dominican, Chaminade returns home for five straight, their only extended home stand of the season with Aloha Senior Day on Saturday, Oct. 25 against Westmont.
