Hawaii entered Sunday with a chance to clinch the Big West Conference regular season title.
Another milestone in the University of Hawaii soccer team’s charmed 2024 season was accomplished on Sunday as the Rainbow Wahine clinched the top seed in the Big West and hosting rights in the conference tournament with a 2-1 victory at UC Santa Barbara on Sunday.
Hawaii improved to 11-7-1 overall and 7-1-1 in Big West Conference play with one regular season contest to go. Meanwhile, UC Santa Barbara dropped to 6-5-8 overall, including 4-2-4 in Big West play.
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Hawaii entered with a chance to clinch the Big West regular season title and conference tournament hosting rights with just a tie, but the ‘Bows fell behind 1-0 at halftime with a Olivia Howard goal in the 20th minute.
UH equalized the match on Fabiola Zamora’s goal in the 68th minute and took the lead for good on Nalani Damacion’s header in the 83rd, the true freshman’s seventh game-winning goal of the year.
Zamora preserved Hawaii’s victory with a save with her right foot in the final minute.
Hawaii has one regular season match remaining on Thursday against Long Beach State at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. The contest will also serve as senior night for the Rainbow Wahine.
Waipio will be the site of the Big West Conference tournament, with Hawaii advancing to the semifinals against an opponent to be determined.