The University of Hawaiʻi 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. Captain and fifth-year senior defender Jodi Lillie was named 2022—23 UH Hilo Female Athlete of the Year.
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.
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. I think I was just doing what I needed to do with what my role required,” Lillie said. “To be getting a lot of recognition was really special to me because I didn’t think about it at all or expect anything.”
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.
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.”
Off the field, 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 earn 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 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 Oʻahu.
For the full story visit hiloathletics.com .
