INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – UH-Hilo women’s soccer came in at No. 4 in the latest NCAA Division II West Regional Rankings released Tuesday morning.
The Vulcans (11-1-3) are one of four teams from the Pacific West Conference listed in the top nine West Region rankings.
With the addition of three schools to the conference, this year’s NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championships postseason tournament features seven berths for the West Region — one additional spot compared to previous seasons. Three of the berths will go to each of the champions from the PacWest Conference, the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC). All three conferences now have postseason tournaments with a champion to be determined the weekend of Nov. 16-17.
The final four spots will be earned by the remaining teams in order of the final NCAA Regional Rankings. There will be one more iteration of rankings posted next week before the final reveal with the NCAA Selection Show, Nov. 18, on NCAA.com.
The top two teams will host the first and second regional rounds at their respective sites the weekend of Nov. 22-24. With seven berths in the West Region, only the top-seeded school will have a first round bye.
The proceeding highest ranked West team will then host the West Region Championship on Dec. 1. The following week, the West Region champ will host the West/South Central NCAA Quarterfinal matchup (Dec. 7).
The last two National Champions have come out of the West Region (Point Loma in 2023 and Western Washington in 2022).
NCAA WEST REGION RANKINGS
Nov. 6
1. Cal Poly Pomona (CCAA)
2. Concordia (PacWest)
3. Point Loma (PacWest)
4. UH-Hilo (PacWest)
5. Azusa Pacific (PacWest)
6. Western Washington (GNAC)
7. Cal State LA (CCAA)
8. Cal State San Marcos (CCAA)
9. Cal State East Bay (CCAA)
Trujillo named
Defender of the Week
UH-Hilo men’s soccer senior Brian Trujillo was named Pacific West Conference Defender of the Week as announced Monday afternoon.
The Vulcans had just one match last week, posting a 3-0 shutout of Fresno Pacific to inch closer toward clinching a berth in the conference postseason tournament. It was the fifth shutout of the season by the UH-Hilo defense as the Sunbirds were held to five shots on goal.
Second-year UH-Hilo head coach Diego Marroquin credited Trujillo as a key factor in helping shut down FPU’s two leading scorers.
“UH-Hilo’s Brian Trujillo helped lead his Vulcans defense to a 3-0 shutout of red-hot Fresno Pacific on Saturday on the Big Island. The Sunbirds, who had scored five goals in two matches on O’ahu before arriving in Hilo, were kept out of the net by a stout Vulcans defense that allowed just seven total shots, five of them on goal. The win also helped UHH move a half-game ahead of the Sunbirds in the conference standings. “Brian has had multiple game-winners for us this year, is a captain and key player for us,” said Hilo coach Diego Marroquin. “He is a defensive stalwart that led the team in tackles and aerial duels from midfield against an explosive Fresno team. He was a key performer in helping us shut down (Chris) Macias and (Lucas) Ribeiro on the wings.”
UH men beat
in friendly
UH-Hilo Men’s Basketball wrapped up its opening weekend of play with a 92-61 defeat to Division-I Montana in an exhibition Monday evening at the Dahlberg Arena.
The Vulcans opened the game 0-of-8 from the field and fell into a 10-0 hole that they just couldn’t quite climb out of. UH-Hilo finished with 16 turnovers to just seven by the Grizzlies. Montana managed to dominate inside with a 62-28 advantage in points in the paint.
Jessiya Villa led Vulcans scorers with 11 points (4-7 FG).
Although counting as an exhibition for UH-Hilo, it was Montana’s official season opener as it moved to a 1-0 record.
Up next: PacWest-GNAC Crossover – Today vs. Saint Martin’s at 2 p.m. / 5 p.m. MT (Billings, Montana / Alterowitz Gymnasium – MSU Billings)
