Wahine Clinches MW Tourney Berth After 2-2 Draw against UNM

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Rainbow Wahine Soccer Finding Its Stride as Hawai‘i Reaches Midseason in First Mountain West Campaign

HONOLULU — The University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine soccer team has experienced its share of ups and downs through the first half of the 2026 season, but head coach Michele Nagamine's squad appears to be finding its rhythm at the right time.

After dropping their first three matches, the Rainbow Wahine have responded by winning five of their last seven contests, improving to 5-4-1 overall and 2-1-0 in Mountain West Conference play.

With Hawai‘i competing in the Mountain West for the first time after 15 seasons in the Big West, the early portion of the schedule has been about more than just wins and losses. It has also been an opportunity to establish the program's identity in a new conference.

And through 10 matches, the Rainbow Wahine have shown encouraging signs of progress.

A Slow Start Followed by a Strong Response

Hawai‘i opened the season with three consecutive losses against Texas Tech, Kansas State, and Western Michigan. The Rainbow Wahine struggled to generate consistent offense during that stretch, scoring just twice while surrendering seven goals.

However, the team's fortunes began changing on August 22 with a 2-0 shutout victory over Idaho.

That win sparked a three-match winning streak, highlighted by a dominant 7-0 performance against Hawai‘i Pacific and a 3-0 victory over New Mexico State.

The Rainbow Wahine then battled Washington State to a scoreless draw before entering Mountain West competition.

Despite a 2-0 loss at Colorado College in their conference opener, Hawai‘i bounced back with an important 2-0 road victory over Air Force on September 27, securing the program's first-ever Mountain West win.

The momentum continued on October 7, when the Rainbow Wahine defeated Nevada 3-0 at the UH Lower Campus Field for their first Mountain West home victory.

Defense Becoming Hawai‘i's Biggest Strength

One of the biggest reasons for Hawai‘i's turnaround has been its defensive improvement.

Through 10 matches, the Rainbow Wahine have recorded six shutouts while allowing just nine total goals.

The defense has been particularly impressive at home, where Hawai‘i has put together five consecutive unbeaten matches and gone 497 straight minutes without conceding a goal.

Goalkeeper Kennedy Justin has played an important role in the team's recent success. During the victory over Air Force, Justin recorded a career-high nine saves while helping Hawai‘i secure a crucial conference road win.

The Rainbow Wahine have also received strong contributions from their defensive back line, which has limited opponents' scoring opportunities while helping create chances offensively.

Offensive Playmakers Stepping Up

Hawai‘i has also shown encouraging offensive development, scoring 19 goals through its first 10 matches while allowing only nine. Several players have emerged as important contributors.

Anuhea Aluli: Leads the Rainbow Wahine with six goals and 13 points, including three game-winning goals.

Olivia Dianda: The freshman has contributed three goals and one assist while emerging as a promising young attacking player.

Tatum Porter: Has recorded three goals and one assist, providing another offensive option.

Nalani Damacion: Delivered two crucial second-half goals against Air Force to secure Hawai‘i's first Mountain West victory.

Rori Gartner: Has helped create scoring opportunities, including assists during Hawai‘i's recent conference victories.

Aluli's early-season production has been particularly important, while Dianda's emergence gives the Rainbow Wahine another attacking threat as conference competition intensifies.

Second-Half Success Making the Difference

Another notable trend has been Hawai‘i's ability to finish matches strong.

Through its first 10 contests, the Rainbow Wahine have outscored opponents 14-2 in the second half, with eight of those goals coming in the final 15 minutes.

That ability to produce late goals has helped Hawai‘i turn close matches into victories.

Against Air Force, Damacion scored twice after halftime, while the Rainbow Wahine added two second-half goals against Nevada to put the match out of reach. The late-match production reflects a team that has become increasingly dangerous as games progress, although finding more consistent first-half scoring remains an area for improvement.

A Critical Stretch Ahead in Mountain West Play

With seven regular-season matches remaining, Hawai‘i will now look to build on its early conference success.

The Rainbow Wahine's next challenge comes Sunday, October 11, when they host UTEP at 3 p.m. HT.

Both teams enter the matchup with identical 2-1 Mountain West records, making the contest an important early test in the conference standings.

Following the UTEP match, Hawai‘i will travel to face San José State and UC Davis before returning home for contests against Grand Canyon, UNLV, and New Mexico. The Rainbow Wahine will conclude their regular season on November 7 at Wyoming.

With the Mountain West Championship scheduled for November, every conference result will become increasingly important as Hawai‘i looks to position itself for postseason competition.

The Outlook: A Team Trending in the Right Direction

At the beginning of the season, Hawai‘i faced questions about how quickly it could adjust to a new conference after a difficult opening stretch.

Ten matches later, the Rainbow Wahine have begun answering those questions.

Five victories in their last seven matches, six shutouts, and back-to-back Mountain West wins have provided reasons for optimism.

The combination of experienced contributors, emerging younger talent, and improved defensive consistency has given Hawai‘i a foundation to build upon. There are still challenges ahead, particularly with several important road matches remaining, but the Rainbow Wahine have demonstrated they can compete in their new conference.

If Hawai‘i can maintain its defensive discipline while continuing to develop offensively, the Rainbow Wahine could put themselves in a strong position to compete for a spot in the Mountain West postseason.

For Nagamine and her squad, the first half of 2026 has been a story of resilience, adjustment, and steady improvement.

Now, the challenge will be turning that progress into a strong finish.