Change in direction

By MATT GERHART

Tribune-Herald sports writer

Kristine Pasek and Lindsey Poulsen are used to change, but this one was dragging out.

Pasek called the search “nerve-wracking” and wondered “if anybody wanted to take our team.”

When the process was finally over, it was a “hallelujah” moment for Poulsen.

It took awhile for the University of Hawaii at Hilo to find its first director of soccer. But considerably less time went by before Pasek and Poulsen deemed Lance Thompson as the right man to finally stabilize UHH’s volatile program.

“I think everyone was a little bit worried, but right from the beginning everyone liked him,” said Poulsen, a senior. “We have someone to lead us in the right direction. There’s just a whole new, positive vibe out here.”

Pasek, a junior who’s set to play for her third coach in three seasons, wouldn’t mind if this change was for good.

“You can tell by the intensity of the team that we’re eager to win,” she said. “We’re ready to learn.”

Thompson was hired away from the Cal State San Bernardino men’s program on Aug. 1, an easy call for him to make considering he has family on Oahu. He finally met his players Aug. 19, and his first impressions were positive as well.

“I’m super excited for their enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge,” he said. “With any new coach coming in there are going to be natural challenges, but they’ve done a great job adapting to me and my staff.”

The Lady Vulcans will find out just how far everyone has come when they open their season at 3 p.m. today against Cal State San Bernardino in Kaneohe, Oahu. The Coyotes are coached by Travis Clarke, who led the UHH women for its first three seasons. Since then, it’s been a revolving door at the top, with Thompson becoming the fourth coach in five seasons.

“That’s got to change,” Thompson said. “I’m ready to buy a house.”

He’s not paying any attention to the Vulcans’ past, but the record book doesn’t lie. UHH finished 5-12 last season and was shut out eight times in getting outscored 39-23. It’s ranked 11th out of 13 teams in the preseason Pacific West Conference poll.

“We’ve had problems scoring, and we seem to be very successful at giving them up,” he said. “Typically, my teams don’t give up a lot of goals.”

Case in point: His Coyote men registered eight shutouts in 17 contests last season.

According to Thompson, who has 135-85-23 record in 13 seasons as a coach, the difference is attention to detail.

“It always comes down to the little things,” he said. “They make all the difference.

“That’s what I value: what are we doing on a restart, a set piece, a corner kick and free kicks.”

In the preseason, he’s favored crisp and short 90-minute practices that Pasek and Poulsen say have been more intense and organized than last season. While he admits there is a learning curve to conquer, Thompson wants UHH to play a more direct and aggressive style of soccer to take advantage of the substitute-friendly college game.

“His philosophy on how we’re going to win games is going to work for the team better than any other philosophy we’ve tried,” Poulsen said.

The senior’s return could provide a big boost in making that philosophy work.

After leading the team in points as sophomore, she played in only four games last season because of what she termed “differences in style” with then-coach Unity Beddingfield.

Poulsen’s excited to be back, so forgive her for any puns.

“Everyone is getting along and excited,” she said. “I hate to say it, but there’s a real sense of unity out here.

“It’s really not the right word, but that’s what it feels like.”

No matter the coach, the 5-foot-5 Pasek has been a handful for defenders to mark. She’s led UHH in goals in each of the last two seasons, and she toughed out multiple injuries last year to score eight times. The rest of the returning roster only accounted for five goals.

She’ll likely work up top with senior Analysa Rodriguez (three goals in 2012) and sophomore McKenna Hughes, who played in four matches last season.

Poulsen could play forward or midfield, and Pasek was looking forward to re-establishing a connection.

“We still have that (chemistry),” she said. “We’re still looking for each other to get it in the back of the net. Anything we can do to get it in there.”

Among the new faces are two junior college transfers recruited by Beddingfield, midfielder Caroline Stromick and defender Kassandra Talamantez, and Thompson was happy to inherit both.

He also likes the composure and savvy that senior Lauren Grace-Finley brings at midfield. The Kealakehe graduate started 15 games last season.

There is experience on the back line and youth at goalkeeper.

Junior Chloe Nishioka, a Hilo High graduate, started 16 games in 2012 and her coach likes the leadership she provides on defense, while junior Taylor Wright has started the two previous seasons at fullback.

Thompson only had time to bring in one of his own recruits, but freshman goalkeeper Jenna Hufford was just the player he needed when Breegan Saller elected not to return to the team.

“She’s good,” Poulsen said. “We got really lucky.”

One of the most versatile players on the roster is senior Rheanna Perez, who Thompson can plug in at either goalkeeper or forward. Senior forward Emily Cadiz, meanwhile, played in 15 matches last season.

All too tired of change, Pasek noticed one for the better last Thursday when the UHH volleyball team received raucous support in its opener.

The women’s soccer team’s first home match is Sept. 12 against BYU-Hawaii, and Pasek senses a trend.

“I think athletics has really taken a turn this year,” she said. “I think there a lot of new changes within every program, and I think the school is ready to support. There’s a lot more school spirit going on now.

“We played (Cal State San Bernardino) before and didn’t do so well. They are expecting a very different team. They’re not expecting the team we have right now.”