HOMEGROWN REPORT
Kapa'a High grad makes Hawai'i soccer history
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Andrea Alfiler of Kaua'i is the first soccer player from Hawai'i to be drafted by the year-old professional Women's United Soccer Association.
Azusa Pacific University
"I'm living my dream," she said.
Andrea Alfiler was picked in the second round by the Philadelphia Charge.
Alfiler, a 1997 Kapa'a High graduate, was named NAIA Player of the Year last fall at California's Azusa Pacific University.
She was taken in the second round of the WUSA draft by the Philadelphia Charge, which traded "future considerations" to the defending champion San Jose CyberRays for the 16th overall pick to take Alfiler.
Philadelphia coach Mark Krikorian decided he wanted Alfiler in his backfield after coaching her on the West College team in the Umbro Select All-Star Classic, Feb. 7-10, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"I absolutely had never heard of her before or seen her play," Krikorian said. "Most of the players were very familiar to me, but when I saw her play the first night, I was very impressed.
"She is very athletic and she played simple, smart and tough — all the qualities we were looking for in a center back."
The draft was held at a Fort Lauderdale hotel the day after the tournament and Alfiler was present.
"I was hanging out in the hallway when I heard my name called," she said. "That was pretty cool."
Alfiler said she was nervous at the start of the three-game Umbro Classic. "Everyone else here seemed to be from big Division I NCAA schools," she said. "I didn't think anyone would notice me.
"I didn't feel I played well the first game," she said. "I had to reassess my attitude, have fun and play hard. Then I settled down and my confidence began to grow."
After the draft, Alfiler made a whirlwind trip back to Azusa, Calif., to try to arrange with professors to complete her final semester away from campus. Then she flew to Philadelphia to start training camp with the Charge at Villanova University Monday.
"I'm usually a center midfielder, but I was drafted as a defender. I feel like I have a lot of room to improve, but I'm having fun right now, and getting used to playing in the cold," Alfiler said after the first day of practice.
"I always wanted to be playing as long as I could, but I wasn't expecting to be drafted at all. Pro soccer is a recent reality for young soccer players," she said. "This is a dream to me."
Alfiler, who is 5 feet 7, was a three-time NAIA All-American at Azusa Pacific, where she walked on in 1997.
The Charge have 24 players in camp and must cut to 22 by March 15 and to 18 by April 1. The WUSA season opens April 13.
CORNER KICKS: New York's Tiffany Millbrett was the leading scorer (16 goals, 35 points in 20 games) and most valuable player of the WUSA last year. ... "Attendance exceeded all expectations and all eight franchises are back for this season," Philadelphia coach Mark Krikorian said. "If the league expands to Hawai'i, I want to coach there." ... Andrea Alfiler was one of two small-college players taken in the 32-player draft; the others were all from NCAA Division I teams. ... Two males from Hawai'i have been drafted into professional outdoor soccer: 1996 Kamehameha graduate Brian Ching was drafted out of Gonzaga by the Los Angeles Galaxy last February and 1976 Iolani graduate Ric Miller was drafted out of Seattle Pacific in 1980. Ching, also the 16th player drafted, was cut by the Galaxy Feb. 14 after playing in eight MLS games last season.
