Hawai'i Homegrown Report
News of other Hawai'i athletes

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

Sophomore defender Chelsea Montero of Saint Mary's (California) was chosen on a national soccer team of the week for the second time this season.

Montero, a 2000 Kamehameha Schools graduate from Mililani, was selected Monday by Soccer America magazine for leading a defensive effort that held 18th-ranked San Diego to one shot. She also assisted on the first goal in the Gaels' 3-0 triumph.

Scott French of Soccer America reportedly said Montero is the "best defender I've seen all year."

"Chelsea's playing awesome, the best soccer I've ever seen her play," coach Paul Ratcliffe said. "She's getting stronger and stronger physically and mentally.

"She's always had the talent and now she has a ton of confidence after playing against some of the best teams in the country." (Five West Coast Conference teams are ranked in the top 25 nationally.)

St. Mary's is 13-2-2 and ranked fifth in the nation by Soccer Buzz magazine, 16th in the coaches poll.

Montero, who was moved from midfield to defender this season, was chosen on the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week on Oct. 22.

MORE WOMEN'S SOCCER

• Azusa Pacific (California)

Senior midfielder Andrea Alfiler (Kapa'a '97) was chosen Golden State Conference Player of the Year.

Alfiler, who came to Azusa as a freshman walk-on and earned a permanent starting role by her third game, was an NAIA first-team All-American in 1998 and 1999 but did not attend school last season.

"She is so key for us because she orchestrates our game on both sides of the ball," coach Jason Surrell said. "She wins balls in the air and dictates the pace of every game. Her toughness and presence changes the complexion of each game."

Azusa Pacific (13-1) is No. 1 in NAIA national rankings.

The Cougars outscored 10 conference opponents 45-1, shutting out the last nine.

Alfiler, who has career totals of 19 goals and 19 assists, leads the Cougars into regional playoffs this weekend.

FOOTBALL

• Harvard

Senior quarterback Neil Rose (University '97/Pac-Five) of Mililani, completed 14 of 16 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the first half Saturday against Columbia before he aggravated a neck injury that had kept him out the previous 1 1/2 games. Harvard is 7-0, its best start since 1968, and plays defending Ivy League champion and also-unbeaten Penn this week.

Rose's 61.1 career completion percentage is the best in Harvard history. His 65.4 mark this year also is Harvard's best. He ranks fifth in NCAA Division I-AA passing efficiency with a rating of 159.7.

• Menlo (California)

Freshman Gino Gosciaco (St. Louis) of Waimanalo set a school record with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Menlo's 58-7 homecoming victory over La Verne Saturday.

Menlo (7-2) is in the running for its first-ever NCAA Division III playoff berth with a roster that includes 20 players from Hawai'i.

Junior Duane Miller (Wai'anae) is Menlo's leading rusher and sophomore wide receiver Russ Fukushima (Moanalua) is one of its leading pass receivers.

Senior strong safety Kili Hugo (Kamehameha) of Waialua, senior cornerback Mana Cambra (Kamehameha) of Kailua and junior lineman Duane Sherry (Pearl City) are key defensive players. Sherry has been a terror on the kickoff team. Hugo leads the team in takeaways .

The other Hawai'i players on Menlo's roster are sophomores A.B. Eugenio (Baldwin) and Elia Akau (Kamehameha) and 13 freshmen: Kainoa Kaaihili (St. Louis) of Waimanalo, Kainoa Rudolpho and Jeremy Kam (Moanalua); Abe Weissman and Kalani Siliga (Hilo); Kekoa Quinabo and Kainoa Fernandez (King Kekaulike); Chad Calma (Waipahu); Randall Isomura (Waialua); B.J. Mariano-Hardy (Waimea) of Hanapepe; Kyle Suzuki (Kalani); and Daniel Palea (Castle) of Waimanalo.

Graduate assistant coach Gabe Amey (St. Louis '97) of Waipahu was an All-American receiver for Menlo last season when he ranked 13th in NCAA Division III in receiving yards (1,117) and 15th in catches (73). After graduation in May, he played the last six games of the Arena 2 League season for the Macon Knights and had 21 catches.

MEN'S SOCCER

• Gonzaga (Washington)

Senior defender Zach Scott (Maui '98) of Ha'iku was chosen Player of the Month for October by the West Coast Conference.

Scott anchored a Gonzaga defense that recorded two shutouts; beat then 18th-ranked Loyola Marymount, 4-1, and tied then 14th-ranked San Diego, 1-1. He scored three goals against Loyola Marymount and is Gonzaga's second-leading scorer.

• St. Andrew's Presbyterian (North Carolina)

Freshman sweeper Tim Liu (Mililani '01) was chosen second-team All Carolinas-Virginia Conference.

"His skill, presence and ability to read the game make him an outstanding sweeper," St. Andrew's coach Lance Watkins said. St. Andrew's (4-13) allowed the fewest goals since 1995.

Freshman Jarrett Razon, who was a teammate of Liu's on Mililani's state championship team last season, led St. Andrew's in scoring with five goals and four assists.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

• Rutgers (New Jersey)

Megan Edwards (St. Francis '97) of Kaimuki is an undergraduate assistant coach for Rutgers. She walked on and earned a full scholarship as a utility player after her freshman year. In her senior season in 2000, she was second on the team in kills and digs. Edwards' last name was reported incorrectly last week.

• Cal State-Dominguez Hills

Freshman Keesha Aldridge, a second-team all-state player for 'Aiea's state championship basketball team last spring, has turned to volleyball for her collegiate sport and made an immediate impression.

She leads Cal State-Dominguez Hills in blocking and is third in the NCAA Division II California Collegiate Conference with 1.09 per game. Her 74 block assists rank third on the school's single-season list.

Aldridge is the only freshman who starts regularly for Dominguez Hills, which is near Carson in Southern California.

• Puget Sound (Washington)

Senior setter Trisha Kawamoto (Punahou '98) of Mililani earned honorable mention on the All-Northwest Conference team. "She was one of the most effective servers in the conference," coach Mark Massey said.

Senior Tasha Wong (Punahou '98) started in the defensive back row and was "a fabulous digger," Massey said, with 2.68 per game.

With Kawamoto and Wong both graduating, Massey has been grooming freshman Kari Hayashi (Iolani '00) of Pawa'a to take over as defensive specialist. "In my 25 years of coaching, she is one of the few who could make it on pure athletic ability," Massey said. "She gets to balls that make my mouth drop."

Sophomore Anela Iaea (Kamehameha) of Nanakuli is a utility player for Puget Sound, which finished 17-4. The Loggers were ranked 12th nationally and second in the West last week, but did not get an NCAA Division III tournament bid.

"The Hawai'i group added a great spirit to our team," Massey said.