The September 11th attack
Wahine soccer team finally comes home

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i women's soccer team finally returned.

For a group of individuals skilled at dribbling, passing and shooting soccer balls with their feet, perhaps nothing felt better than when they set foot on Honolulu International Airport yesterday afternoon.

The Wahine were supposed to return from their road trip Tuesday, but the team was stranded in Spokane, Wash., after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., earlier in the day.

"We were sitting in the gate area ready to depart for a 7:30 flight," assistant coach Wendy Miyashiro said. "Somebody was listening to their Walkman by chance and was saying the World Trade Center just got bombed. We thought they were just joking, and we got evacuated out of the airport."

When the players and coaches got back to their hotel rooms they watched the terrifying events unfold on TV.

"We were listening to the radio a lot and TV," forward Arlene Devitt said. "It was scary because we were on the Mainland and not at home."

Said midfielder Joelle Sugai: "We've talked about it because it's all over the news and there's nothing else to watch on TV."

The team held a few practices at Gonzaga University.

"The team was focused and it was a way for them to get away from school work and the travel stresses, and so on and so forth," head coach Pinsoom Tenzing said.

Being stranded wasn't the only thing the Wahine had to face. On Friday night, they narrowly avoided a major traffic accident.

The team's three vans were on their way to catch a ferry that takes passengers to Seattle and, according to players, a truck swerved down a hill and missed hitting the first van by 10-15 feet.

"It was coming towards me and I guess it swerved off the road and when it was trying to correct itself, it tipped over off the bank. This huge truck just tipped over right next to us," said Miyashiro, who was one of five passengers in the first van. "People thought we got hit, but we didn't get hit. It was that close."

The truck's driver was shaken up, but OK, according to Miyashiro.

When the team arrived at Seattle's airport, it discovered increased security.

"We had to be there three hours before (the flight) and there were long lines going around the corner. It was crazy," said defender Carmel Hurley.

A few players were concerned about flying because four hijacked planes were used by terrorists in the attacks.

"I think if I said no, I'd be lying," Miyashiro said. "We know the chances of something actually happening are slim, but everyone was a little concerned, some more than others."

Yesterday's flight on Hawaiian Airlines was supposed to arrive at 11:35 a.m., but was delayed about 40 minutes. When the players and coaches finally made their way to the baggage claim area, some of the players' parents were relieved.

"This is my daughter's first road trip so that's why we're here," said Susan Young, mother of midfielder/forward Wendi Young. "She's anxious to get home and we're here to support her."

Said Janet Fong, mother of forward Pam Fong: "I'm glad she's finally home. We can kind of rest easy now."

The Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Festival, Sept. 13-16, was canceled. The three-team tournament was to include UC Riverside and Cornell.

Hawai'i's next scheduled game is Thursday against Eastern Illinois. That game, which is part of the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Invitational, is on hold.

"Eastern Illinois isn't coming down as of now," said Tenzing, whose team is 3-1. "We're going to try and change their minds, and see what happens."