There won’t be any fans – not for a while – nor will the match be contested on the pitch the team would prefer, not this season, anyway.
But it’s pandemic progress, nonetheless.
Soccer returns to UH-Hilo on Wednesday for the first time since 2019 when the men’s team welcomes nationally-ranked Seattle Pacific for a match on the Vulcans’ campus baseball field. The contest begins at 2:30 p.m.
Making their first trip to the islands, the Falcons (3-1) aren’t just ranked 17th in Division II, but they have much more game action, including exhibitions, under their belts this season than the Vulcans (1-1). UHH came away with a split last week against their Hawaii rivals.
“We have potential, but I think we’re going to be underdogs this entire year,” UHH coach Paul Regrutto said in regards to the season-opening trip. “You saw where we were ranked (10th of 11 teams in the PacWest preseason poll). What we have to be careful of is thinking that potential is enough to lean on in terms of (thinking) we’re already there because of potential.
“We have to be a team that works really hard, day in and day out. I think we’re going to have to put in an immense amount of effort and be a really tight group if we’re going to be successful.”
David Mayser’s two goals account for UHH’s scoring through two matches. Luca Lippert leads the Vulcans in shots with six, followed by Tom Vorkastner’s five. Returning goalkeeper Michael Harre has been solid, posting a a 0.98 goals-against average with five saves.
Seattle Pacific features Alex Mejia has four goals in as many matches to lead the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
UHH’s men’s and women’s programs had hoped to be able to christen their new campus turf soccer field this season, but that won’t be the case. After breaking ground in 2020, a school spokesman said the project has been delayed, and it won’t be completed until after the season.
So, it’s back to the baseball field.
“The guys were really excited to possibly have the new field this fall, but I think they’ve moved past it,” Regrutto said. “They are focusing more on the soccer side of things. They want to win, they want to play well, they want to enjoy playing the game they love.”
The school already had announced fans wouldn’t be allowed to attend home matches in September – because of COVID-19 restrictions – and Tuesday UHH announced the university order had been extended through the Vulcans’ first two home volleyball matches in October as well.
“We are very disappointed to not be able to play in front of our fans at this time,” Vulcans athletics director Patrick Guillen said in a release. “But understand that this decision has been made in the best interest of public safety and as measures to protect our community, student-athletes and staff.”
