As much as the University of Hawai‘i soccer team would have loved a win for its nine seniors on Sunday, a 2-2 draw against New Mexico was just as meaningful, clinching a spot for the Rainbow Wahine in the four-team Mountain West Conference tournament.
After Sunday's result, with all 11 Mountain West teams having one contest remaining, the 'Bows are in second place in the conference standings with 19 points. Hawai‘i will wrap up its regular season at Wyoming on Nov. 7 and can be seeded anywhere from 2 to 4 for the Mountain West tournament, which runs form Nov. 11-14 in Phoenix.
Following a 2-1 loss to UNLV on Wednesday, the Rainbow Wahine avoided another letdown on Sunday with a pair of clutch goals from Jordyn Eldredge Sagapolutele and Anuhea Aluli.
New Mexico got on the board first on Sunday with Presley Devey's goal in the sixth minute, an advantage the Lobos carried into the halftime break despite four shots on goal from the Rainbow Wahine.
Eldredge Sagapolutele's goal off New Mexico defender Morgan Juran's foot in the 71st minute prompted a celebration that was short-lived, as Alysa Whelchel got the Lobos back on the board 49 seconds later.
After New Mexico resorted to classic stalling tactics, such as its goalkeeper laying on the ball for five seconds and forcing the referee to count down from five when the ball was in her hands, the Rainbow Wahine broke through the Lobo barrier with Aluli's strike in the 78th minute.
Despite not getting the result it wanted, UH can live with the result it needed for now.
"I kind of got after them a little bit at the end of the game because I told them that they were like a cat and their nine lives — we're getting really close there to the end," Hawai‘i head coach Michele Nagamine joked afterwards. "All we needed to do was put away some of the sitters. I know that's the hardest part of the game, but we created opportunity after opportunity, and we didn't put it away. Fortunately for us, we had some some really gritty individual performances. I thought Anu's goal was one of the best goals I've seen all season."
Aluli's goal was her eighth of the season, extending her team lead. Considering the degree of difficulty, as well as the circumstances of the goal and how it clinched the Rainbow Wahine a spot in the conference tournament, she called it her favorite of the year thus far.
"I think that has been my favorite goal so far," Aluli said after the senior day festivities, which left her covered in lei.
Anuhea Aluli's strike in the 78th minute preserved a tie for the Rainbow Wahine against New Mexico. Photo by Christian Shimabuku (Aloha State Daily Staff) 
Anuhea Aluli's strike in the 78th minute preserved a tie for the Rainbow Wahine against New Mexico. Photo by Christian Shimabuku (Aloha State Daily Staff) 
Anuhea Aluli's strike in the 78th minute preserved a tie for the Rainbow Wahine against New Mexico. Photo by Christian Shimabuku (Aloha State Daily Staff) 
Anuhea Aluli's strike in the 78th minute preserved a tie for the Rainbow Wahine against New Mexico. Photo by Christian Shimabuku (Aloha State Daily Staff) 
Nine seniors were honored for the Hawai‘i soccer team on Sunday. Photo by Christian Shimabuku (Aloha State Daily Staff)
Both teams ended Sunday's contests with eight shots on goal. For Hawai‘i, two time defending Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week Kennedy Justin had six saves, including two that appeared to be clear goals until she came swooping in.
"She's been exceptional all year long, and by the time it gets to her, it's gone through everybody else. What Kennedy did today was she kept us in the game, and that's all we ever ask of our goalkeepers," Nagamine said.
Nine seniors were honored as part of senior day festivities on Sunday in Aluli, Eldredge Sagapolutele, Justin, Izzy Ayala, Leila Kahoano, Izzy Palmatier, Zoe Park, Tatum Porter and Alohi Ramos. Of the nine, Justin has already committed to returning for a fifth year in 2027.
"The senior class has led us in so many different ways this year, and just the example that they set, the standard of excellence that they they put for us — I mean, they put the bar really, really high," Nagamine said. "So, after the game when I kind of got on them, I don't feel bad about it because they're capable of so much more and it's how you build accountability. They are so much better than what we showed today. But we repeatedly found ways to get results when we're not even playing our best. So, I just want to put everything together at the same time, but yeah, credit to our seniors for just really leading us through so much emotion. It's been phenomenal."
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
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