WAIPAHU, Hawaii — Cate Sheahan made the most of her limited time.
The sophomore sub’s decisive strike sent the Hawaii soccer team past UC Santa Barbara and to the cusp of a Big West tournament berth with Thursday night’s 1-0 result at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
On a stifling evening – the muggy conditions and the teams’ disruptive defenses both fit the bill – Sheahan took a through ball from attacking midfielder Eliza Ammendolia and buried a shot around charging UCSB goalkeeper Taylor Little in the 76th minute for three invaluable points. As a result, UH (5-5-3, 4-3-1 Big West) remained above the six-team cut line with 13 points with two matches to play.
Sheahan, a part-time starter this season, was one of just three backups called upon by coach Michele Nagamine against the Gauchos. The 5-foot-7 sophomore from Highlands Ranch, Colo., played 31 minutes, the fewest of any Wahine player who saw action on the night.
“It’s a great feeling and I know that my chances might be slim, but when I do get those chances I’ve gotta use every minute I have and try to make a difference on the field to help my team win,” said Sheahan, the team’s season assists leader with four.
The fifth-place Wahine can guarantee themselves their second all-time BWC tournament spot, and first since 2019, with a single point from a draw either on senior night Sunday against first-place Cal Poly (7-6-3, 5-2-1), or at fourth-place Long Beach State (9-5-3, 4-2-2) on Thursday. If UH wins at least once, it could be in line to host a tournament game for the first time.
The only team that can supplant UH in the tournament field is UC Riverside (2-10-5, 2-5-1), which would have to win out in its last two matches at UC San Diego on Sunday and at Cal State Northridge on Thursday, coupled with two losses by UH.
UCSD is within striking distance at 11 points with two matches left, but the Tritons are ineligible for the postseason as they play out their final year of transitional Division I status.
UCSB (4-7-7, 2-5-2) had its chances at Waipio but was officially eliminated. A large number of youth club teams filled the stands on either side of the pitch and lent a festive atmosphere to the night.
Nagamine, who tightened her substitutions considerably with what amounted to a win-or-stay-home game against a capable opponent, breathed a big sigh of relief after Wahine keeper Sophie Augustin turned away a couple of late Gaucho threats to attain her second shutout of the season.
“That was massive. It was beyond big. We wanted to keep the dream alive and three points were very, very necessary,” Nagamine said.
She said Sheahan had earned her opportunity with some strong training sessions on the road and through the team’s bye week. She noted Sheahan had little trouble getting to the ball in the past; it was knowing where to go with it once she did.
This time Sheahan, who spelled star striker Amber Gilbert 11 minutes earlier, was decisive.
“It’s a tough position to put a young player in, and she delivered big time on that silver platter,” Nagamine said.
Kickoff on Sunday is 4 p.m.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.