To say Hawai'i women's soccer coach Pinsoom Tenzing would miss this year's seniors would be a major understatement.

"They are everything," he said. "The success of the program is entirely because of Jessica Domingo's crowd. They have renovated the way we do business."

The seniors play their last home games this weekend in a pair of Western Athletic Conference games at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

The Rainbow Wahine, are undefeated at home, say goodbye to Domingo, Koren Takeyama, Shawn Higa, Lehua Wood and Aimee Watanabe.

"This is the first group that took it upon themselves to be in the best physical condition before preseason camp," Tenzing said. "It made it easier; we could concentrate on the tactical aspect of the game.

"They were in shape and ready to go by the time they appeared. That takes tremendous amount of leadership and organization."

They were the first to start conditioning and training during the offseason and summer. And they amassed a 40-30-9 (16-10-1 WAC) record throughout their four years. It didn't come easy. Domingo, Takeyama, Higa and Wood all dealt with knee injuries, some season-ending. Watanabe dealt with a heart scare.

"I think, if there were a word to describe us, it would be 'overcoming', " Takeyama said. "To go through all that, we worked hard and didn't give up on ourselves.

"We're hanging in there and trying to help the team get to places it's never been."

In Domingo's eyes, it is the fight in each player that bonds them.

"We all had to fight for what we've got," she said. "All of us are 5-foot-4 or shorter. We're not a big class sizewise, but I feel like we made a big impact on the team."

They will try to do that this weekend, when the Rainbow Wahine can take the WAC title with a pair of wins over WAC leader Boise State (8-5-3, 4-0-1) tonight at 7 and Idaho (4-11-1, 0-4-1) Sunday at 5 p.m. UH, which is undefeated at home this season (9-0-1), last won the regular-season conference title in 2005, but has never won the WAC tournament. The WAC tournament champion earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

This group of seniors leads a team talented enough to do so.

"They can play with the very best in the nation, if we have all of our guns," Tenzing said. "We can still compete with what we have because it's such a good team."

He added that if "the first 11 are firing on all cylinders, we can do well. All of that is left to what the soccer gods have in store for us from here on out."

Their common goal to be the first UH team in program history to make it to the NCAA Tournament might be one of few things they all share.

"All of us are different," co-captain Domingo said. "We each contribute in our own ways to make the team what it is. We're a pretty funny class. Most of us are laid back and go with the flow.

"We have different personalities. Aimee is super fun loving. She's always happy and such a team player. Lehua is also a hard worker and just athletic. Koren is a very optimistic person. She always believes in everyone and she's always there to pick you up and encourage you when you're down. Shawn is the crazy one. She has a very rare sense of humor. It's so funny. She can pretty much laugh at everything, even herself, so that's always good."

Tenzing said he will be "really sad" to say goodbye to them.

"This is a group that truly made my job easy," he said. "I could concentrate on what I like best, which is coaching tactical soccer. It's been a slice of heaven.

"They are at heart, really good kids. Their example has permeated to the younger kids. They are delightful kids to be around; very intelligent. Everything they do is classy. They are so thoughtful of each other. It's an amazing bunch of kids to be around."

TOURNEY ON WAC.TV

The Western Athletic Conference will stream the WAC Soccer Tournament, in Boise, Idaho from Nov. 8 to 11. Viewers can sign up by visiting www.WAC.tv.

Two first-round matches will be played Nov. 8 with the winners moving on to face the top two seeds in the semifinals the next day. The championship will be played at 10 a.m. (Hawai'i time) Nov. 11.

All five matches can be seen on WAC.tv by accessing the soccer tournament package for a one-time price of $9.95.

FUKUROKU HONORED

Junior forward Taryn Fukuroku was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Distict VIII team for the second straight year.

Fukuroku, who was selected to the third team, was a second-team selection last year. She has a 3.39 grade point average in kinesiology and leisure science.

RAINBOW WAHINE SENIORS

JESSICA DOMINGO

Midfielder

Graduation Date: May 2008

Major: Kinesiology

Post-UH plans: Physical therapy grad school or law school

Best UH Memory: "On the field, it was when we beat Cornell in double overtime with just seconds left. Off the field, it was going to the Title IX dinner with Jackie Joyner-Kersee. I didn't realize how recent it was that women got to play sports the way we do. It made me realize I shouldn't take things for granted."

What she'll miss the most: "The teammates. Everyone on the team, all the people I've played with the past four years."

Fun Fact: "Sometimes when I'm really tired I talk in my sleep, and sometimes I talk so loudly I wake myself up."

Tenzing on Domingo: "Jessica is the prime motivator. If there's one individual responsible for extreme change of attitude, it would be Jessica."

SHAWN HIGA

Defender

Graduation Date: May 2008

Major: Secondary Education

Post-UH plans: Math teacher

Favorite UH memory: "When all the girls fall down and we all yell, 'Sniper!' We'll just fall down with nothing in front of them. It's unexpected."

What she'll miss the most: "Definitely not 5 a.m. practices during spring. It's got to be the girls, the team, everything. Just playing with Jess, Koren, Le, and Aimee. It's probably the last time I'll play with them. You're going to make me start crying."

Fun Fact: "I was going to say I'm really good at fishing, but I'm not. I only caught one fish," said Higa, in her typical humorous fashion.

Tenzing on Higa: "She came in as a walk-on and is an invaluable part of the program."

KOREN TAKEYAMA

Defender/Midfielder

Graduation Date: May 2008

Major: Family Resources

Post-UH plans: "I really don't know. Most likely to go back to school and get my masters."

Favorite UH memory: "This year, my first time playing after injuring my ACL. It had only been 4 1/2 months, and people doubted I could come back so fast. Thanks to God up above and (trainer) Jayson Goo."

What she'll miss the most: "Definitely not the running. We have had hard times, but being with my teammates and having something to do after classes every day. Not seeing my teammates — I'm going to miss that, that's for sure."

Fun Fact: "I have a small bladder. I'm always going to the bathroom."

Tenzing on Takeyama: "She is such a great kid that I think everyone on the team, from one to 23, is hoping she succeeds. She's loved by all. She's a sparking personality."

AIMEE WATANABE

Midfielder

Graduation Date: May 2008

Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology

Post-UH plans: Graduate School

Favorite UH memory: "All of them. There's not one in particular. Just being with the girls."

What she'll miss the most: "The camaraderie, definitely. It's like a second family. I'm going to miss them so much."

Fun Fact: "Everyone tells me I have a funny laugh, and I'm always smiling," said Watanabe, whose boyfriend is UH basketball player Jared Dillinger.

Tenzing on Watanabe: "Another terrific kid. She's always in shape. Never complains, and that's something us coaches are constantly dogged with. She works harder than anybody else, and I appreciate her presence on the team."

LEHUA WOOD

Defender

Graduation Date: May 2008

Major: Health Science, with a minor in Biology

Post-UH plans: Take a year off, then try for med school

Favorite UH memory: "Can I make a prediction instead? It's going to the NCAAs this year."

What she'll miss the most: "I'm going to miss my teammates and the team chemistry we have."

Fun Fact: Wood has been dating UH quarterback Tyler Graunke for a year.

Tenzing on Wood: "One of the best right backs our program has had."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.