Stepping back on the field at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium may be just another game for Olympian Natasha Kai, but there will be a few terrified faces staring back at her across the field.

"I don't think everyone knows she's playing," University of Hawai'i women's soccer captain Tehane Higa said. "Those of us who do know are kind of freaking out."

Kai will play in tomorrow's Rainbow Wahine alumnae game, starting at 7 p.m.

"I think it will be like any other game," Kai said. "I think it will be fun, coming off a good year. It's a way to stay in shape, and a good chance for the alumnae to support UH.

"It's going to bring back a lot of memories, that's for sure."

Kai left the program as a three-time Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, with school career records for points (162), goals (72) and shots (446).

She was a member of the U.S. team that captured the gold medal in the Beijing Olympics. The U.S. team is taking the month off, before resuming its Achieve Your Gold Tour. The dates and venues for the remaining seven games of the tour have yet to be announced.

"I need to remember it's just a game," said Kai, who will bring her gold medal to Waipi'o and be available for autographs and photos after the game.

It's been at least three years since the Rainbow Wahine played in an alumnae game, and Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing credited former captains and all-conference players Jessica Domingo (2004-2007) and Joelle Sugai (2001-2004) for helping to organize the alumnae team and make the game possible.

"I've had not-so-good history (in alumnae games), in that it's almost like a ghost of the past coming to haunt me," said Tenzing, the program's only coach who is in his 15th season. "They do things we're still trying to incorporate, because they've been with the program and they know what we're doing.

"It's a mixture of delight and horror."

Although Tenzing plans on fielding "the best team," he said he won't play anyone who isn't cleared medically. That means Higa will likely sit while she recovers from a sprained ankle.

Higa also missed Hawai'i's recent road trip, when the Rainbow Wahine went 1-1-1. They have a rare free weekend, and open WAC play on the road against Nevada (Oct. 10) and Fresno State (Oct. 12).

Even though Higa won't be playing tomorrow, she said, "I think it will be a fun game. It's good for everyone to see all the players who came through the program."

Kai's goal is to "have fun. I know they are in season and I know we're old. I'm excited to play with people I played with in college and some of the older girls I didn't get to play with."

Besides Kai, alumnae expected to play include Domingo, Sugai, Missy Moore, Taryn Murata, Tia Medeiros, Shawn Higa, Tiffany Makue, Erin Schremser, Erin Chow, Krystalynn Ontai, Krisha Kai, Adria Campbell, Carmel Hurley, Leila Wai, Koren Takeyama and Amanda Paterson.