The University of Hawaii at Hilo Women’s Soccer program reached new heights last fall with an undefeated run through the regular season to claim back-to-back Pacific West Conference Championships and a bid to host part of the NCAA West Regional First and Second Rounds — all on the school’s brand-new Vulcan Soccer Field.
With a 13-1-3 finish, the UH-Hilo women’s soccer team earned a consecutive nod as Vulcan Team of the Year as announced at the annual All-Sports Banquet in early May.
Every ship has its captain, and the Vulcans were anchored by the lead of fifth-year senior defender Jodi Lillie, who was named 2022-23 UH-Hilo Female Athlete of the Year.
Lillie helped the Vulcans to a 40-16-13 record and 35 team shutouts during her five seasons, prompting recognition with five All-PacWest Team honors, five All-Region awards and a spot on the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America Third Team.
“I didn’t feel like I was doing anything spectacular,” Lillie said. “I think I was just doing what I needed to do with what my role required. To be getting a lot of recognition was really special to me because I didn’t think about it at all or expect anything.”
While surprising for Lillie, it wasn’t all too new for the 2018 Mililani High School graduate after ending her prep career as All-Hawai’i Defensive Player of the Year on top of multiple All-State and All-League honors with three Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I titles.
Coming out of high school, Lillie was initially set to begin her collegiate soccer career elsewhere but ultimately landed on becoming a Vulcan along with childhood friends and Hawai’i Rush Soccer Club teammates Piper Collado (Pearl City HS), Brende Yoshizumi (Kamehameha Schools Kapalama) and Kayla Kunihisa (Maryknoll School).
“I have a bad memory. We probably did talk about it because they were going to play at other places too, but we did all want to play together so we chose UH Hilo,” Lillie recounted. “Being far away from home and not knowing anyone was a scary thought so going to Hilo with people I knew, I thought it would be a good opportunity to play while being with my friends.”
Along with the opportunity of having a well-rounded college experience at the Division II level, getting minutes on the field was also a big priority as Lillie would go on to start all 69 matches spanning her decorated five-season career.
In hindsight, all signs seemed to have been pointing toward making for a great fit, but before choosing to move to the Big Island, Lillie caught one of the Vulcans’ games and championship aspirations seemed to be a far-fetched idea.
Head coach Gene Okamura credits Lillie as a big reason the women’s soccer program has developed to where it is today.
“Their style of play was way different before I got there in 2018 and I was thinking, ‘What am I getting myself into?’” Lillie said. “I was really surprised how well we did. I thought the team we had my freshman year was really good, but I was just surprised they hadn’t done as well in the past. We just got better and worked well together.”
Lillie garnered many academic accolades along the way and graduated spring of 2022 with a bachelor of business administration and a concentration in marketing before opting to use an extra year of eligibility — granted from the COVID-19 pandemic — to return to help the Vulcans run it back for back-to-back PacWest Conference titles.
Last summer, Lillie was UH-Hilo’s nomination for NCAA Woman of the Year for her growth and development as a team leader and would later advance as one of two student-athletes to represent the PacWest Conference in the national pool.
While proving to have great leadership qualities, Lillie said that she doesn’t see herself coaching in the near-future. Since hanging up the cleats, Lillie returned home and has been working as a contract specialist intern at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on O’ahu.
“Everybody would tell me how fast time would go, and I would always just agree like, ‘Yeah, yeah I know,’” Lillie said. “Now being home, I miss seeing everyone every day and I just miss being a part of the team.”
