'Baby' boomers boost OIA girls soccer teams
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
The common thread running through most of the top contenders for the O'ahu Interscholastic Association girls soccer championship is youth.
New head coach Frank Baumholtz III of defending champion Pearl City says "this is a baby team" with only two seniors starting. But the Chargers went 7-1-1 in the West, outscoring opponents 75-1.
Coach Alan Heu of Eastern Division champion Kalaheo (8-1-1) says, "We're still a young team, with three seniors. We're ahead of schedule."
'Aiea coach Gordon Matsuoka, whose team was unbeaten with two ties and allowed one goal in nine OIA West games, says Na Ali'i's second seed is "a pleasant surprise. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year."
And Kailua's Wil Kimura says, "We're shocked that we finished second (7-1-2 in the East). This is practically a whole new team" from the one that lost only to champion Baldwin, 5-3, at last year's state tournament.
The 12-team OIA Tournament opens Friday with doubleheaders at Pearl City and Roosevelt high school football stadiums. The top-seeded teams (No. 1 Mililani and 'Aiea from the Western Division and No. 1 Kalaheo and Kailua from the East) pass through to Saturday's quarterfinals, which will be played at Mililani and Kailua.
Semifinals are next Wednesday at Mililani and the championship Saturday, Feb. 2, at Pearl City.
Though the top contenders all have mainly underclassmen lineups, each one is led by a core group of experienced seniors.
At Mililani, Mele French, who will play at Oregon next season, is O'ahu's scoring leader with 23 of the Trojans' 67 goals. Another senior, Julie Broussard, has 10.
French scored the only goals of the season allowed by Pearl City and 'Aiea. Her "no-look" goal against Pearl City gave the Trojans their fourth straight Western Division championship.
Pearl City has just four seniors among its 18 players, but two of them are co-captains Carmen Calpo, second behind French in West goal-scoring with 17, and sweeper Rachel Nicholson, anchor of a defense that shut out eight of nine OIA West opponents. Calpo will sign with Hawai'i next month.
Kalaheo senior captain Lindsey Peck, a four-year Eastern Division all-star, converted from outside halfback to striker this season and led East goal-scoring with 17.
Senior captains Rachael Gonzales, a midfielder and team-leading goal scorer with eight, and forward Anela Ramelb were Kailua's "backbone. Those two held us together," Kimura says. The Surfriders started the season with six returnees and 13 rookies, including two "brand-new" goalies, but one striking positive, Kimura says: "Our team GPA was 3.4."
'Aiea's strength is through the middle, Matsuoka says, with junior forward Kimberly Unten (13 goals); her sister, senior halfback Jodie Unten; and junior sweeper Randy Ako, daughter of former 'Aiea and Hawai'i pitching great Gerald Ako.
Western Division teams have dominated the OIA Tournament; the last Eastern Division winner was Kaiser in 1997. But Kalaheo's Heu says: "I definitely feel we have a shot." In preseason, the Mustangs tied Pearl City twice and Mililani once. Kalaheo also lost to Mililani 2-1 on a penalty kick.
Heu's biggest concern is that when the Mustangs play the winner of Waialua-Castle Saturday night at Kailua, it will be their first game in two weeks. "It's hard to stay sharp with just practices," Heu said. "We've got to turn it up. This is a different season."
CORNER KICKS: Girls soccer is probably the most successful sport at Waialua, the smallest regular public high school on O'ahu with 527 students last year. This is the fourth year in a row the Bulldogs have qualified for the OIA Tournament. With just four seniors, they earned the No. 4 seed in the West. Senior Crystalen Lopez is leading scorer and junior sweeper Ashley Yoshizu leads the defense. ... Pearl City had some academic problems last month, starting 10 players against Mililani because five broke a team rule by receiving Ds. If everybody passes this week's grade check, Baumholtz will start a back line of three sophomores, a freshman and a senior. ... Heu thinks Kalaheo junior goalkeeper Amy Lusk "is one of the best in the state," and that sophomore striker Tina Garcia (nine goals) and junior fullback Brandi Benson could be pivotal players. ... Pearl City had three of the West's top five scorers. Behind Calpo (17) were sophomore Chante Figueroa (15) and freshman Chelsea Arakawa (10). The Chargers won the West junior varsity title and Baumholtz will bring three of those players up to varsity if Pearl City qualifies for the state tournament Feb. 14-16 on O'ahu. The top five teams from the OIA qualify.
