Soccer team UH-H adds 27 new Vulcan players

Hawaii Hilo Men's and Women's Soccer Teams Announce Large Incoming Classes for 2022/2023 Season

The University of Hawaii Hilo men's and women's soccer teams are gearing up for an exciting new season, with both teams welcoming a significant number of newcomers.

On the men's side, head coach Gene Okamura is welcoming 11 new additions, making this the largest incoming class during his 10-season reign. The new players include Mahmoud Musa, a senior forward from Oakland, California, and Tim Mathis Zimmermann, a freshman defender from Hamburg, Germany. Other newcomers include Jesse Murillo, a junior defender from Mansfield, Texas, and Ingolfur Ingason, a freshman midfielder from Hafnarfjorour, Iceland.

The women's team is welcoming 16 newcomers for their upcoming season. This includes Emily Alonsoperez, a freshman midfielder from Ridgefield, Washington, and Gabriela Semlick, a freshman goalkeeper from the same town. Other new additions include Caroline Stringfellow, a junior midfielder from Syracuse, Utah, and Kalen Toguchi, a freshman forward from Mililani.

The teams will begin training on August 18, with the season opener scheduled for September 5. The men's team will play at home against Chico State, while the women's team will face a yet-to-be-announced opponent.

Both teams had a strong showing in the previous season, with the men's team qualifying for the Pacific West Conference Championships postseason tournament and finishing runner-up. They also notched the program's first NCAA postseason win. The women's team also qualified for the tournament, where they exited in the first round after a tough double-overtime defeat to eventual tournament champion Westmont.

Unfortunately, both teams also saw significant departures, with 16 players leaving the men's team and 13 leaving the women's team. All of these players graduated or exhausted their eligibility. However, both teams return a core of experienced players, with the men's team returning 20 players, including 13 starters, and the women's team returning 32 players, with 17 being upperclassmen and 11 being seniors.

With the addition of these talented newcomers, both teams are looking forward to a successful season ahead. The men's team will be looking to build on their success from last season, while the women's team will be aiming to go one step further and win the Pacific West Conference Championships.