In the midst of the University of Hawai'i women's soccer team's off-season training, it is receiving the rare treat of a challenge from a ranked Mainland competitor.

In its first out-of-state competition in the spring since 2003, UH will play Virginia at 7 tonight at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

Taking advantage of its fortune, UH will be charging admission to its soccer games for the first time. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for students and free for children 10 and younger.

"We want to see how fiscally viable we are," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "That's why we need the support. When people come out Friday, they aren't only supporting the UH team, but they are supporting soccer in the future as far as our fiscal viability."

The Rainbow Wahine return 10 of 11 starters from 2006, including all-Western Athletic Conference players Jessica Domingo, Taryn Fukuroku and Koren Takeyama, in a season that produced their first losing record since 2000 (8-11-2).

But Tenzing is less concerned about the final record than the injuries he feels led directly to the losing season.

"I'm coming off a season where the quality of soccer is the best we've had," Tenzing said. "Now for almost three years straight, injuries have almost crippled us. Last season was the best team I've ever coached and the quality of soccer was the best ever."

Hawai'i will receive an early test of its durability tonight.

The Cavaliers played in last weekend's UH six-a-side tournament. UH and Virginia both fielded two teams, with a UH team defeating a Virginia team for the tournament title.

"They are a good team," said Domingo, a co-captain along with newly appointed captain Tehane Higa. "It's going to be a good battle."

Tenzing said Virginia has "some very skillful, very strong players."

Tenzing hopes playing the Cavaliers, who are coming off their 13th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and a No. 18 ranking in the NSCAA/adidas Top 25 poll, will give the Rainbow Wahine confidence that they can "play with the best."

He is "very grateful" to Virginia for making the trip here.

UH's previous spring opponents included Nebraska, Oregon, Southern California and William & Mary, but Tenzing said it is tough to bring in Mainland competition because there is no budget to do so.

Domingo is excited for the "exposure to that level of play. Then we can kind of gauge where we are and know what we need to improve."

Three weeks into its two-month spring training session, the Rainbow Wahine are fine-tuning their style of play, especially their high-pressure defense. They have time to break down the details, a luxury they don't have in the few weeks in the fall before the regular season starts.

"Spring season is when we do all the key things," Tenzing said. "That has good and bad points. The group of kids we have in the spring know exactly what to do in the fall. The bad side is we don't have time to introduce the new kids to the system. Now we have terrific teachers in kids like Domingo, Shawn (Higa), Koren and Tehane. Now I just need to talk to them and they do all the coaching (on the field)."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.