Flores' return to forward gives Wahine soccer boost
By Leila Wai
Special to The Advertiser
Veronica Flores, an all-conference forward two seasons ago for the University of Hawai'i Wahine soccer team, is happy to be back — for her senior year and at her normal position.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
"I'm glad that I am playing my original position because now I can help the team with my strengths as a forward," said Flores, who will lead the Wahine in their season opener tonight against Sacramento State. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
Senior forward Veronica Flores can't wait to attack the goal again after spending last season as a keeper when injuries knocked out both of the Wahine's goalies.
Flores was an all-Western Athletic Conference forward as a sophomore in 1999.
But within a 20-minute span during a road game last season, the Wahine lost both their goalies, and Flores saw her role turned literally head over heels.
She became the goalie.
"It wasn't my strongest position that I felt would help the team, but because there was no one else, I had to," Flores said.
"I think she did very well," said senior Erin Schremser. "She was willing to sacrifice to make the team better.
"She is a team leader, and having that selfless trait is a good example for the underclassmen to follow."
Flores, a three-sport athlete in high school at Mt. Vernon, Wash., used her knowledge and athleticism to her advantage. In five games Flores had a 1.66 goals allowed average.
"Playing in the goal I had to reverse my role," Flores said. "If there is a person coming at me, I think to myself, 'What would I do in this situation?' and then react as quickly as possible.
"I usually have to score the goals but this time I had to learn to stop them."
Said coach Pinsoom Tenzing: "She did remarkably well. She's got good hands and did what I expected her to do. Her timing is exquisite, and she has a tremendous ability to get the ball up the field."
Despite losing a part of the season to playing in the goal, Flores was second on the team in points (10), with three goals and four assists. She holds the UH record for points (23) and goals (10) in a season (1999).
"I was disappointed in myself because I couldn't do as much offensively when I was stuck in the goal," Flores said.
But that didn't stop her from excelling.
In 1999, she was named to the No Ka Oi Wahine Soccer Tournament as a forward. Last year she was named to the Outrigger Soccer Festival All-Tournament team as a goalkeeper.
Flores said the pressure of being on the receiving end of the shot was different.
"You might get mad at missing a shot here or there, but it won't really make the difference in the game," she said. "But when I missed a few goals it made all the difference in the world. As a goalie you are the last line of defense for your team."
It's highly unlikely Flores will return to goalkeeping. The Wahine have three this year.
Tenzing is optimistic about the season. "We're a little inexperienced, but we're a talented bunch," he said.
Leading the Wahine will be captains Schremser, Flores and junior Wanette Miyashiro, and sophomore Arlene Devitt.
Schremser, a defender from Kingston, Wash., has started 54 of 58 career matches.
Flores is second in career points (34) and goals (13).
Devitt, a striker from Kapa'a, Kaua'i, was a member of the All-WAC second team last season. She led the team with 17 points and seven goals, both school records for a freshman.
In all, 11 letterwinners and seven starters return from last season.
WAC coaches may not believe the Wahine are a threat. They were picked to finish sixth in the preseason coaches' poll. Last season, UH finished 5-12-3 overall and 1-4-2 in the WAC, which placed it seventh among eight teams.
"As far as being placed sixth (in the poll), I think they have underestimated our drive this year," Schremser said. "It's understandable based on last year's record, but we're going to prove them wrong."
After today's game, UH will play its Alumnae Game Sunday at 5 p.m. The team then leaves on a three-game road trip.
UH WAHINE SOCCER SCHEDULE
August
Today: Outrigger Hotels & Resorts No Ka Oi. Hawai'i vs. Sacramento State, WPSS, 7 p.m. Ê ÊSeptember Ê Ê Ê Ê
Sunday: Alumnae Game, WPSS, 5 p.m. 7: at Idaho. 9: at Gonzaga. 10: at Eastern Washington. 13: Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Festival—Hawai'i vs. UC Riverside, WPSS, 7 p.m. 15: Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Festival—Cornell vs. UC Riverside, WPSS, 5 p.m. Ê
16: Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Festival—Hawai'i vs. Cornell, WPSS, 5 p.m. 20: Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Invitational—Hawai'i vs. Eastern Illinois, WPSS, 7 p.m. 22: Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Invitational—Eastern Illinois vs. CS Northridge, WPSS, 7 p.m. 24: Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Invitational—Hawai'i vs. CS Northridge, WPSS, 7 p.m. Ê
28: at St. Mary's. 30: at Sacramento State.
October
1: at California. 12: at Tulsa*. 14: at Rice*. 15: at Stephen F. Austin. 19: vs. UTEP*, WPSS, 7 p.m. 21: vs. SMU* , WPSS, 5 p.m. 26: at Boise State*. 28: at Nevada*.
November 1: vs. San Jose State*, WPSS, 7 p.m. 3: vs. Fresno State*, WPSS, 4 p.m. 8-10: WAC Championship Tournament, Dallas, TX, TBA
WPSS — Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium
*Denotes conference games
