Tranquility now.
The only time UH-Hilo’s soccer teams want to see red Wednesday is when they look at their fans.
The Vulcans host Notre Dame de Namur in a Pacific West Conference doubleheader at their campus baseball field, and all spectators are encouraged to wear the school color in their annual red out game.
The women’s game is at 4:30 p.m., and the men follow at 7 p.m, and both programs have already faced their fair share of adversity as they open three-match homestands.
With two combined wins, both coaches mentioned the “F” word – frustration.
“The mood is right now is actually OK,” women’s coach Gene Okamura said.
His Vulcans (1-4-2 overall, 0-1 Pacific West Conference) have suffered two overtime losses as well as two losses late in regulation despite putting more shots on goal, 61-45, than their opponents.
“Obviously, we’re frustrated because we’re creating all those opportunities that give us a chance to get the right result,” he said.
“It’s just not falling for us right now. I think mental lapses end up costing us. Besides that, I think we’re playing good soccer.”
The Argonauts (4-3-2, 1-1) beat Hawaii Pacific 2-0 and lost to Chaminade 2-1 last weekend. Also on Oahu was UHH, which managed a loss and a tie, respectively.
The UHH men (1-5, 0-1) followed up their first win at Chaminade with an improved effort at HPU, albeit in a loss.
“You’d like to think every move forward shows up in the result, but that’s not always the reality,” coach Paul Regrutto said.
Considering UHH is breaking in 26 players in Regrutto’s second season at the helm, isn’t it only natural that the start has been slow?
Or is that just an excuse?
“I think you have to realize that you have to go step by step,” Regrutto said. “Sometimes you go by them really quickly, and sometimes it takes a bit more time.
“You have to move forward as quickly as you can without getting frustrated. The frustration sometimes can really set you back.”
Notre Dame de Namur (4-5, 1-2), which beat UHH 8-1 last season, lost the opening two matches of its Hawaii trip, losing 3-1 to HPU and 2-1 to Chaminade.