Mililani’s Amber Gilbert leads the way for UH soccer

The University of Hawaii soccer team begins its 2024 season on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Georgia Southern at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

Leading the way for the Rainbow Wahine is junior forward and Mililani native Amber Gilbert, who was named to the preseason Big West team after earning first team honors in 2023.

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Gilbert, who had a team-high seven goals for the Rainbow Wahine as a sophomore, has come a long way in the sport after not thinking much of it during her prep days.

“It was more just like, ‘Oh, kickball, right?’ But just being surrounded by better people that do more than just that, I just want to be able to change the way that I play so that I can fit with my team and so that we could just be better,” Gilbert said.

Hawaii head coach Michele Nagamine has praised Gilbert’s advanced mind for the game and how it matches her skill on the pitch.

“What we coaches like to say is that Amber has become a student of the game. She watches film. She has lots of questions,” Nagamine said. “Her athleticism, just to be able to have that kind of player be that weapon. But now her movement off the ball has gotten so much better and she’s filled her bag of tricks with a lot more stuff.”