The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Former Jackrabbits Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
They say you can take the girl out of Long Beach, but good luck taking the Long Beach out of Kennedy Justin.
The former Long Beach Poly goalkeeper is now living more than 2,500 miles from home as a redshirt sophomore at the University of Hawai’i, but she still bleeds green & gold from across the Pacific Ocean.
Thanks to a unique 2025 schedule for the Hawai’i women’s soccer program, Justin and her Rainbow Wahine teammates have twice gotten to play at Long Beach State over the first month of the season. That allowed for dozens of Justin’s friends and family members to congregate at George Allen Field to see her play in her hometown once again.
“Growing up in Long Beach, they’re always gonna show up and show out, so it’s just exciting to see,” said Justin on having a strong cheering section for her games in Long Beach. “Going to school so far away, I maybe see these people once or twice a year, so to be able to add two extra times, I really appreciate it.”
Justin said she was ecstatic to share this part of her life with her teammates, who’ve become a second family for her during her time in Hawai’i. Her pride in attending Long Beach Poly is palpable, and she made sure to let her teammates know she’s from “the best high school in the country.”
One of the most important aspects of her trip home was to make sure her teammates got an experience that’s hard to find on the islands: quality Mexican food. Justin had the entire team over to her place for taco night, getting to bring her families together in the best way possible.
“The team, the culture that we have, it’s kind of like we’re all in the same spot. Everyone’s from the mainland pretty much, and it’s kind of like they become your family, because it’s not really an option anymore,” Justin explained. “I think just learning how to isolate yourself there is super sweet though, because the Aloha that everyone has is so different. It’s almost like we’re in a foreign country.”
Justin said her parents were supportive of her decision to go to college so far away, and she’s acclimated to it well. The biggest adjustment was the 3-hour time difference, which makes it hard to call home after games when her parents are already fast asleep.
But so far, this season has been a little different, with six of Hawai’i’s first 11 games being played in California. As mentioned, two of those games were at Long Beach State, a place where Justin’s love and appreciation for soccer began to take shape as a kid.
“The first time we came here and played, it was kind of surreal,” Justin explained. “I grew up watching Long Beach State play, and now I’m here and I’m like, ‘Okay, no, I’m not rooting for the Beach this time,’ but it’s pretty nice.”
Justin started in goal in her return to Long Beach State, playing the first half and recording four saves in a 2-1 defeat for the Rainbow Wahine. Unfortunately, she was unable to play in the second meeting (a 0-0 draw on Sept. 18) while dealing with an ankle injury, but was able to get back on the field two days later to help UH to a scoreless draw at San Diego State.
It’s been an interesting start to the season for Justin, who’s been sharing time with junior goalkeeper Brianna Chirpich. Last season, Chirpich went down with a season-ending injury during Hawai’i’s season opener, creating the opportunity for Justin to take over the starting job as a redshirt freshman.
Not only did she fill in, she thrived. Justin had one of the best seasons in program history, becoming just the second Rainbow Wahine goalie to win Big West Goalkeeper of the Year. Not only that, she was the first freshman ever to claim that honor in the award’s 22-year history.
Her five consecutive shutouts also set a school record, as she held her opponents scoreless for 496 consecutive minutes. She was named First Team All-Big West and was First Team All-West Region, but she’s quick to share the credit for those individual accolades.
“Honestly, I’ll say it a thousand times over, I owe it all to my teammates,” Justin said. “They were there to lift me up and support me. There were some rough games, I won’t lie. At the beginning of our season last year, I was getting my butt handed to me. But they were there to lift me up in the hard times.”
Going into the 2025 season, Justin was one of just 43 players from across the country to be named to the Hermann Trophy watch list, the award given annually to the best college soccer player in America. She was one of just three goalkeepers named to that prestigious list, and the only representative from the Big West Conference.
“I was like, ‘Oh, what the heck?’ That took me back the most, I think,” admitted Justin of her inclusion on the Hermann Watch List. “I’m super grateful for the opportunities that have been presented to me by the people around me always lifting me up. Any award that I get, I owe it to the defense. I think it’s like the defense’s award, and I just happen to be the face in front of it.”
With the support of half a million Long Beachians behind her, as well as growing support in her adopted home in Hawai’i, Kennedy Justin should have plenty of good days ahead on the pitch. As she works her way back to full health, she’ll undoubtedly be a key part of UH’s success in 2025 and beyond.
“I think the experience that I do have under my belt, it’s knowing that when I am healthy and when I’m able to play, I’m gonna have that confidence,” she said. “I’m ready to be there in that spot.”
