Hawaii Connection Runs Deep for Oregon Soccer

HONOLULU, Hawaii – There are more than 20 fields at the Waipi'o Soccer Complex where the Outrigger Soccer Kickoff is being held. On Sunday, as Oregon faces Hawai'i (7 p.m. PT), every single one of them will be filled by hundreds of players of all ages from throughout the Aloha State.

Duck sophomore midfielder Carly Cormack was once one of those young players.

"My whole childhood, that's where all the games were hosted," said Cormack, who started playing at Waip'o (pronounced why-PEE-oh) when she was four. "It's good to be back there and play, reminiscing about my club and my high school.

"The stadium that we just played in (Thursday night) was the stadium where we played my high school senior championship game, so being there again was kind of unreal because my team won the championship for a third time and we ended up winning in that stadium. So it was definitely a very special moment to be playing there again."

The Ducks' first road trip under new head coach Tracy Joyner has been an opportunity for growth as a team on the field, as well as a chance to experience different cultures.

"Having a personal connection to Hawaii with our two team members, Carly Cormack and Kailee Chavez, makes this trip even more special. I know they have both been looking forward to seeing family and friends."

Saturday, Cormack's mother Marlo, and Chavez's mother Michelle instructed the team on the art of lei-making before each player created their own lei.

Soccer Team Leis

"The lei-making activity was a very thoughtful gesture of the Cormack and Chavez families to share some of the important cultural values and Hawaiian spirit here on the island," said Joyner. "We are so grateful that they provided this experience for our team."

It's a tradition that holds a special place for both players.

"Leis have been a part of my life forever," said Cormack. "It's so simple, but it means so much. It's a labor of love and receiving and giving a lei is a huge part of our culture. I was a little emotional that my teammates and friends could be a part of it and they all loved it."

Oregon Soccer Leis

The tournament has also been an opportunity for Oregon to renew its connection to Hawaii.

"The soccer program and athletic department has a long-standing connection with Hawaii," said Joyner. "One of the best players in program history, Nicole (Garbin) Toeaina, is from Hawaii and also happened to be one of our current players' – Selah Simms – high school coach."

Throughout the years, a number of Hawaiians have donned the green and yellow kit of Duck soccer. From Jamie Kawamura, who played on the first team of the modern era in 1996, to all-conference performers like Starr Johnson (2000) and Chai Cortez (2021), to Toeaina, an Oregon Hall of Famer and the 2006 Pac-10 player of the year.

The Ducks' longest-tenured player in the NWSL, Chardonnay Curran (2017-20), is also from Hawaii (Ewa Beach). Cormack is the fourth former Punahou High School player to suit up for Oregon, joining Kawamura, Johnson and True Dydasco (2017-22).

"There's a lot of great talent here," said Cormack. "We all know each other because we all grew up on the same island and played the same teams. So I think the soccer community is super close and we're all really supportive."

The current Oregon roster features Hawaiians Cormack (Honolulu) and Chavez (Makakilo). Cormack has seen an increased role as a sophomore after scoring one goal in 17 games as a freshman in 2024. She attempted a career-high four shots in Thursday's 1-0 loss to Sacramento State. Chavez is working her way up to her first cap as a Duck after redshirting last season due to an injury.

"When Kai and I heard that we were coming to Hawaii we were so ecstatic," said Cormack. "It definitely means so much. I mean, I lived here in Hawaii 18 years in my life.

"We often get so homesick for family and friends and it's so beautiful on our island, so being able to come back here and not only enjoy it for ourselves, but with the team, it just means so much. And not only that, but play the sport that we all love."

The argument can be made that the 50^th state has gifted Oregon with the University's greatest player in two sports.

If he's not at the top of the list, Marcus Mariota is certainly on anyone's Mt. Rushmore in the annals of Oregon football. The Honolulu native won the program's only Heisman Trophy in 2014 and later married an Oregon soccer player, Kiyomi Cook (2012-14). He will be inducted into the Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame this fall.

The same can be said for Toeaina (2001-06), who is the only Duck in the history of the soccer program to be named a conference player of the year. She was an all-Pac-10 selection in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and 19 years after her final match, still ranks in Oregon's top two in both season and career goals, game-winning goals and shots.

Nicole Garbin HOF

Nicole (Garbin) Toeaina was inducted into the Oregon Hall of Fame in 2017.

Toeaina, who is married to Oregon football player, Matt Toeaina (2002-06), now passes on the skills and competitive drive that made her one of the top scorers in the Pac-10 as the head coach of Liberty High School.

Simms, her former player, is a freshman defender on the 2025 squad.

"Awesome," said Simms about playing for Toeaina. "I just always loved her pregame talks. She always was very motivational and just very inspiring. I really loved her as a coach."

Drawing from both past and present, Oregon's connection to Hawaii remains strong. And it seems likely that future Ducks are somewhere running around the Waipi'o Soccer Complex today.

"It just means something really important," said Cormack. "That's why I love this team because I feel like we're all like a family. And it's also why I chose Oregon, because it's the same culture of Hawaii – a family."

Carly Cormack