The upcoming University of Hawai'i soccer schedule includes two teams that advanced to last year's NCAA Tournament.

The Rainbow Wahine are coming off their best season in school history, compiling a 15-5-2 record while winning the Western Athletic Conference tournament title and advancing to NCAA Tournament, both firsts for the program.

Hawai'i opens the season on Aug. 27 against Long Beach State in the OHANA Hotels and Resorts No Ka Oi Tournament at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium. Hawai'i then plays Denver, last year's Sun Belt Conference champion and NCAA Tournament participant, on Sept. 1.

Lizzy Carlson, a Punahou graduate, was a Sun Belt Conference first-team pick for Denver last year. Mariko Strickland (Mid-Pacific) was a junior for Long Beach State last year.

The Rainbow Wahine then play in back-to-back tournaments on the road, playing Drake and New Mexico in the New Mexico Classic on Sept. 7 and 9, then playing Pacific and San Francisco at the Pacific Fall Tournament on Sept. 12 and 14.

New Mexico has two players from Hawai'i — Markee Nobriga (Kamehameha) and Kiani Wong ('Iolani) — and Pacific has six — Kylee Ah Choy (Kamehameha), Natalie Wong (Mililani), Kellie Nakahara (Punahou), Chyanne Alejado (Kapolei), Sammi Teramae ('Iolani) and Elisa Asato ('Iolani).

Hawai'i follows with the Outrigger Hotels Resorts Soccer Classic against Montana and UC Santa Barbara at home before going on the road again to play at Portland State, Washington and Cal State Fullerton, last year's Big West champion and NCAA Tournament participant.

Hawai'i opens the WAC season at Nevada on Oct. 10 and at Fresno State on Oct. 12 before hosting San Jose State on Oct. 17. The WAC Tournament will be held Nov. 6 to 9 in Reno, Nev. Two games this year will be played on artificial turf.

Hawai'i defeated Fresno State, 1-0, to win last year's WAC crown, then lost to Colorado, 2-0, in the NCAA Tournament first round.

Nine starters and 17 letterwinners return for the Rainbow Wahine, including WAC Offensive Player of the Year Ambree Ako and WAC Defensive Player of the Year Tehane Higa. Pinsoom Tenzing was WAC Coach of the Year. Kamehameha alum Kanani Taaca, The Advertiser's State Player of the Year, is one of five recruits joining the squad.