For the second year in a row, the University of Hawai'i women's soccer team swept the Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Senior forward Taryn Fukuroku and sophomore defender Nicole Mikula earned the prestigious honors that were announced last night at the Western Athletic Conference banquet in Reno, Nev.

"I am very happy with the selections," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "Winning the offensive and defensive player of the year, Taryn Fukuroku and Nicole Mikula, was a very pleasant surprise and I am very proud of them."

Fukuroku and Mikula are repeat first-team selections, and joining them for her first first-team honor was sophomore midfielder Mari Punzal.

Junior forward Ambree Ako, last year's Offensive Player of the Year who was hampered by a hamstring injury throughout the season, was named to the second team. Last year's Defensive Player of the Year, Tehane Higa, was not named to either team. She missed playing time this year because of a serious ankle injury.

Hawai'i opens the WAC tournament against host Nevada today as the No. 3 seed and defending champion of the conference tournament.

The Wolf Pack are the No. 6 seed.

Hawai'i (8-6-4) finished the regular season 4-2-1, winning three straight games and four out of its final five. Nevada (2-13-3, 2-4-1 WAC) lost its final two games. However, one of its two wins came against Hawai'i in Reno.

No. 1 Utah State and No. 2 Fresno State received first-round byes. The two other teams in the six-team field are No. 4 Boise State and No. 5 San Jose State. Winner of the Hawai'i-Nevada game plays Fresno State in the semifinals.