UH-Hilo soccer director Gene Okamura likes to joke that if Bryana-Marie Ebbers were as good a few years ago, when both were at Kamehameha, as she is now, then the Warriors might have won a state title or two. ADVERTISING
UH-Hilo soccer director Gene Okamura likes to joke that if Bryana-Marie Ebbers were as good a few years ago, when both were at Kamehameha, as she is now, then the Warriors might have won a state title or two.
As it is, Okamura will have to settle for the first perfect three-match season start for the Vulcans in the women’s program’s history.
Ebbers and Jamie Salas each netted two goals Friday as UH-Hilo earned a quality victory no matter the record, beating Concordia 4-1 in Waipahu, Oahu.
The Cavaliers of Oregon finished 10-4-3 last season and were picked to finish third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
“That is very good team obviously,” Okamura said in a release. “It’s a very good win for us and we are off to a good start, but we have a long ways to go yet and much work to do.”
Former Hawaii Prep star Gabrielle Ewing scored for Concordia just 38 seconds into the second half to cut the Vulcans’ lead to 2-1, but Ebbers answered with a breakaway run less than eight minutes later, slotting her shot into the left side of the net.
Salas, the junior transfer from Arizona State, provided the bookend goals, her third and fourth tallies of the season.
Jenna Hufford secured a season-high nine saves to deny the Cavaliers (2-2), who held a 22-10 advantage in shots. Concordia, owner of 20 consecutive winning seasons, hadn’t allowed four goals since 2007, when the school competed in the NAIA.
UH-Hilo hasn’t sported a 3-0 record since the program debuted in 2006. The Vulcans’ best start came in 2013 when it began the season 4-0-1.
UH-Hilo will go for win No. 4 on Sept. 16 when it plays Hawaii Pacific in its home opener at Okamura’s and Ebbers’ old stomping grounds, Paiea Stadium in Keaau.
Ebbers graduated from Kamehameha in 2016, playing her last season in Okamura’s final year as coach. She played 13 matches as a true freshman for the Vuls last season.
Lauded by her coach before the season began, she picked up her first career college goal in the 29th minute Friday, beating the goalkeeper off a pass from Carlee Reader.
In the 74th minute, Danika Steele fed Salas, who flicked a shot into the net from top of the penalty box.
