As a middle schooler, Savannah Toussaint-Adviento admired Hilo High’s Big Island Interscholastic Federation girls soccer dynasty from afar.
As an underclassman, Toussaint-Adviento experienced it first-hand as a three-peat dissipated into disappointment.
She’d prefer not to even think about how the Vikings’ BIIF season ended last year.
“Ugh,” Toussaint-Adviento said, doubling over. “Why do you even ask me that?”
And just like that, Toussaint-Adviento is a senior and tri-captain on a Vikings’ soccer team that is three years removed from its last BIIF championship.
“I feel like we need to get that done before I leave,” she said. “Because the seniors need to experience that (BIIF title).
“I think it will boost everyone up going forward because we always make it that close.”
Especially last year. Toussaint-Adviento and her fellow defenders did their part against Konawaena in the BIIF championship game, but after neither team could score a goal, the Wildcats won in penalty kicks to repeat in Division I.
The Vikings lost 11 seniors off that team, so getting back to the top won’t be easy. The roster of 20 players is low by Viking standards, and 12 of them are underclassmen.
There are four seniors, including Toussaint-Adviento’s fellow co-captains: Mehana Sabado-Halpern and Alysha Medeiros.
“We need take charge,” Toussaint-Adviento said.
They’ll also need to produce scoring opportunities.
Of the 68 goals Hilo scored last year in going 10-2-1 in the BIIF, the Paul Bello-coached Vikings must replace 36 of them. They also were dealt a blow when junior Jasmine Smeraglia, who scored nine goals last season, tore her her anterior cruciate ligament during the summer. Her return this season is uncertain.
“I feel like we’re starting off really raw,” Toussaint-Adviento said, “but I know we have the talent. It’s there. We just need to step up as captains, and help the younger players out. I do know we have a great team.”
The Vikings finished 1-2 during a trip to Kauai and they continue their preseason at their Big Island Candies Hilo Bayfront Classic, which runs Friday through Sunday.
“We still need to work on our chemistry,” Toussaint-Adviento said.
Sabado-Halpern tied for second on the team with 11 goals last year, and the reigning BIIF cross country champion figures to be a tireless worker either at forward or midfield.
Toussaint-Adviento (three goals last season) will move up from fullback to try and provide more scoring punch. Another key piece is sophomore Evyn-Bree Helekahi-Kaiwi (four), while Medeiros (two) will help anchor the backline.
Among the fresh faces are sophomore Ashley Mendes, who’s slated to take over at goalkeeper, and freshmen Aly Amaral and Lacey Shiigi. Amaral was the leading scorer on a Chicas’ club team that won a pair of age-group tournaments in Oregon in July, while Shiigi could help in the middle.
“It’s a little scary because we don’t have that much depth on the bench,” Toussaint-Adviento said. “But I believe if we stay healthy we’ll be fine.”
Hilo won’t have to wait long to see where it stands in Division I. The Vikings visit Kealakehe in their opener Dec. 6, and the rest off the month includes home games against Konawaena and Waiakea, as well as a visit from Division II contender Kamehameha.
“I think that’s a good thing, They always challenge us,” Toussaint-Adviento said. “I think it’s a rebuilding season, but we still have a lot of potential to make it far.”