Soccer is one of those sports you can't solely judge a team based on win-loss record.

Hawaii, the defending Western Athletic Conference champion, finished its nonconference season 4-4-3, but has done it playing arguably the toughest schedule among all WAC teams and without a couple of its key players.

Sure, Boise State (7-4-1) and upstart Louisiana Tech (10-2-1) look tough on paper, but as conference play begins tomorrow with a full slate of games, the Rainbow Wahine remain the team to beat in the WAC.

“;We've played some very good teams,”; Hawaii coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. “;We've had devastating injuries again, we're a little hobbled, but by the strength of our team, I don't think we should lose any games.”;

After dropping three of its first five games, Hawaii has bounced back with a win over No. 23 UC Santa Barbara at home and pushed No. 21 Washington to overtime before losing a game where Tenzing says his team clearly outplayed the Huskies down the stretch.

The Rainbow Wahine, who went 6-1 last year, open the WAC season tomorrow at Nevada before facing Fresno State on Sunday.

Reigning WAC defensive player of the year Tehane Higa has missed the last four games with an ankle injury, but will slowly be eased back into action over the weekend with the hope she's fully ready to go for Hawaii's next homestand.

The 20 goals Hawaii has given up this year matches the total from the entire regular season last year. Without Higa, Hawaii has had to rely on freshmen Colleen Burns and Brittani Lum and sophomores Chelsea Deptula and Nicole Mikula to anchor the backfield, but they haven't given up more than two goals in the last four games.

“;It's going to be up and down because we've got two freshman and two sophomores running it,”; Tenzing said. “;We'll get Tehane back in small places in the next two games, but I do want to keep her playing time short.”;

Here's a look at all the WAC teams heading into conference play based on the league's preseason poll:

  1. Hawaii
Record: 4-4-3
Coach: Pinsoom Tenzing, 15th season, 128-129-25
Key players: F Ambree Ako (5 goals, 2 assists), F Taryn Fukuroku (3 goals, 4 assists), D Tehane Higa (2 goals, 1 assist)
The skinny: The defending conference champion has already given up as many goals (20) this season as it did all of last year. Higa, Ako and midfielder Kristen Oshiro have all missed games with injuries. After going undefeated at home last season, the team is just 1-2-1 at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium this year. The Wahine have received valuable contributions from newcomers Kristyn Shapka, Kaylee Kihara, Colleen Burns and Brittani Lum.

2. Fresno State
Record: 4-7-1
Coach: Steve Springthorpe, fifth season, 45-38-11
Key players: MF Ali Sill (2 goals, 3 assists), F Nicole Gutierrez (4 goals), D Selena Gill
The skinny: The Bulldogs have four shutouts this season. Sill's 21st assist of her career came on a game-winning goal by Gutierrez against Portland State, moving her into a tie for first on the school's career assists list. Goalkeeper Kaitlyn Revel won the WAC defensive player of the week award on Monday for the third time in her career.

3. Utah State
Record: 5-7-1
Coach: Heather Cairns, sixth season, 48-53-10
Key players: GK Ali Griffin (49 saves, 1.31 gaa), F Lauren Hansen (4 goals, 1 assist), D Lindsey Smart (2 goals, 1 assist)
The skinny: The Aggies are undefeated (3-0) in conference openers. No Utah State player has multiple assists, but eight different Aggies have one. Four of Utah State's seven losses have been by one goal. Offense has been the biggest problem as Utah State has been shut out five times this season.

4. Boise State
Record: 7-4-1
Coach: Steve Lucas, 11th season, 68-75-17
Key players: F Shannon Saxton (5 goals, 5 assists), MF Andrea Huerta (4 goals, 2 assists), MF Kaylea Perenon
The skinny: 7-4-1 record is BSU's second-best start ever to a season. The Broncos recently completed a nine-game road trip, going 5-4. They did not play a home game in September. Saxton is tied for the league lead in assists (5) and third in goals (5).

5. Nevada
Record: 0-9-2
Coach: Jaime Frias, first season, 0-9-2
Key players: F Samantha Miller (2 goals, 2 assists), MF Miranda Montejo, MF Jessica Thompson (2 assists)
The skinny: First-year coach Frias has had a rough go of it as the Wolf Pack are near the bottom of the league in every category. Thompson's 17 career assists are the most ever by a Nevada player. Montejo is the school's all-time leader in points (44). Wolf Pack average a conference-low 0.45 goals per game.

6. San Jose State
Record: 2-6-3
Coach: Jeff Leightman, first season, 2-6-3
Key players: F Emmy Belding (3 goals), MF Kaila Waitley (1 goal, 1 assist), D Britnee Chesney
The skinny: The Spartans are another team struggling to put the ball in the net. They are last in shots and only average 0.55 goals per game. Goalkeepers Jordan-Michelle Santos and Nina Butera have been strong in the net. Santos has been WAC defensive player of the week twice this season. SJSU's three goals scored against Air Force were the most in one game in over a year.

7. Idaho
Record: 1-10-1
Coach: Pete Showler, fourth season, 9-55-4
Key players: D Jennifer Eugenio, F Jen Hull, F Nicole McAllister
The skinny: The Vandals have allowed 21 goals this season, second most in the conference. Their only win came against Idaho State. Hull's six goals last year as a freshman were the fifth most in school history. Team is experienced with 10 starters returning from last year.

8. Louisiana Tech
Record: 10-2-1
Coach: Kevin Sherry, second season 12-16-2
Key players: MF Kristen Sevier (7 goals, 3 assists), D Brittany Davis, F Olivia Lukasewich (3 goals, 3 assists)
The skinny: First-year coach Sherry brought in 17 freshmen this season and they have made a huge impact. LaTech leads the league in every statistical category, including goals, points, assists and goals allowed. Teams are only scoring 0.54 goals a game against LaTech, but they have played one of the weakest schedules in the country.