Champions crowned as AYSO games deemed major success

By Leila Wai
Special to the Advertiser

It is now a semblance of what it once was. All 192 teams have packed up tents, coolers and equipment, and abandoned the once bustling Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex.

Kona goalkeeper Lisa Franke, right, punches the ball away from 'Aiea's Brooke Hayashi, left, while Julie Broussard looks on. 'Aiea knocked off Kona, 4-0, to capture the girls under-19 title at the AYSO National Games. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

With the Games over, Hawai'i — the first-time host — can now assess the success of its teams.

"One thing I was really impressed with was the level of play from the Hawai'i teams ... We saw a lot of Hawai'i teams eight years ago and overall they seem much better now," Joel Mark, AYSO national president, said Saturday night.

Six of the eight champions were from Hawai'i, and both boys and girls in the under-19 division, and the under-14 girls division consisted of all-Hawai'i finals.

In the girls division — where there was a Hawai'i sweep — the champions were Hilo (U12), Honolulu (U14), Honolulu (U16), and 'Aiea (U19). The boys champions were Kane'ohe (U12), Mission Viejo, Calif. (U14), Santee, Calif. (U16), and West O'ahu (U19).

Every division, except for under-14 boys, had a Hawai'i team in the semifinals.

Every team played two games a day during the tournament that began on Thursday, with the semifinals and finals held yesterday.

"The competition was great," U-19 boys coach Ernest Eberhart from West O'ahu said. "This is a big thing because with the tournament being held in Hawai'i for the first time, Mainland teams could see Hawai'i soccer. And people in Hawai'i showed them we could play."

The 2004 Games will be held in Lancaster, Calif.

"If Hawai'i were to submit a bid, they would very much be in the running," Mark said, referring to Hawai'i's chances of hosting the 2006 Games. "The local volunteers here showed so much hospitality ... that's what made this such a success. If they can do that with similar energy, they could host just about anything and have success."

Here's a closer look at the two U-19 finals:

Girls under 19

'Aiea's Julie Broussard, left, avoids the tackle of Kona's Ku'ulei Karratti during the second half of the girls under-19 final at the AYSO National Games at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex yesterday. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Jodie Unten scored the final goal of the game on a header off a corner kick from Jennifer Loo in the 71st minute.

Nitta, who has played in AYSO since she was 5, said: "It feels great. It is a good feeling knowing it was a national tournament."

'Aiea finished the tournament undefeated, and in the eight games it played, outscored its opponents 34-1. The lone goal allowed was against Ada-Cascade of Michigan in the quarterfinals.

"This is a really good team, and a really easy team to coach," 'Aiea coach Duane Toyofuku said. "They gelled really well together, and played like they have played together for years."

Not bad for a team thrown together just before the games. 'Aiea was a last-minute team, filling in for one of the Mainland teams that dropped out before the tournament began. That gave 'Aiea about two weeks to get together as a team and practice.

That was a two-week advantage it held over Kailua, Kona, whose team — made up from girls from Honoka'a to Ka'u — never practiced or played together before the tournament.

"We had a great time," Kailua, Kona coach Gerry Solomon said. "We were battered and exhausted. I'm really proud of the kids. We know how they play and we really respect them."

Kailua, Kona's only two losses of the tournament were to 'Aiea, both 4-0 scores. It reached the finals with a 2-1 double-overtime shootout win over Santee, Calif.

"This was an awesome tournament," Toyofuku said. "I think all the Mainland teams were really happy. This set a precedent for all national games in the future."

Boys under 19

West O'ahu 2, Honolulu 1: Bobby Shinn scored in the 61st minute, capping a comeback for West O'ahu. Shinn put back a ball that the goalie blocked, but could not control.

Robert Camerra, of Honolulu, scored in the second minute with a long, arching shot from 25 yards out that caught the goalkeeper off his line.

Chris Kaaukuu scored the equalizer in the 32nd minute for West O'ahu when he took a Bobby Self through ball and launched a curling shot past an outstretched goalkeeper into the left side of the net.

"It's a dream because Hawai'i is always not known for soccer, but with this tournament, and two Hawai'i teams in the final, this is a big thing for us," Kaaukuu said. "Hawai'i made its name.

"It was a good game. Both teams know each other, and we both played hard. We came out fired up."

West O'ahu coach Ernest Eberhart agreed: "I'm kind of speechless right now. There were two good teams out there, and the game was well played. Both teams played well. We just came out on top.

"The boys wanted it and they did it. It is fortunate that we won."

Teams from Hawai'i also enjoyed success in the sportsmanship awards, a high honor in this tournament. The under-16 girls team from Hilo won the overall girls sportsmanship award. The under-16 boys team from Ventura, Calif., claimed the top spot in the boys' category.

Sportsmanship division winners were El Paso, Texas (U12 boys), Kailua, (U12 girls), Leeward (Hawai'i) (U14 boys), Newbury Park, Calif. (U14 girls), Ventura, Calif. (U16 boys), Hilo (U16 girls), Montrose, Mich. (U19 boys), and Missouri Valley, Iowa (U19 girls).

Advertiser staff writer Wes Nakama contributed to this report.