Iolani, Parker grads receive soccer honors
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
The fire has been rekindled for Chela Gray.
For Shaye Anderson, it never has burned brighter.
Gray, a "delayed" freshman, and Anderson, a senior, both won honors this week from soccer coaches of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference for their play for Western Washington University.
Gray, a 2000 Iolani graduate from Kane'ohe who is in her third year of college, was chosen conference co-Freshman of the Year. Anderson, a 1999 graduate of 94-student Parker High School on the Big Island, was selected first-team All-Great Northwest Athletic goalkeeper.
Gray's "delayed" freshman story has nothing to do with academics. She's an excellent and serious pre-physical therapy student.
But she was "extremely burned out after high school and didn't want to pursue soccer," she said. After a year attending the University of Washington and not playing, however, "I realized I missed the competition, the bonds and friendships, the team environment and atmosphere," Gray said.
She tried a coed league but was not satisfied. "It's not the same," she said. She also found Washington "too big and impersonal," and when she learned Western Washington offered a pre-physical therapy major that Washington did not have, she transferred.
Gray walked on to the soccer team last spring, "worked my butt off all summer" and became a starter. "Nothing came easily," she said, "but when I do anything it's 110-plus percent. My passion re-blossomed. I'm basically being a kid again. I absolutely love it."
Gray led the league in game-winning goals with five as Western finished 8-4-0, one game out of first place. She led her team in goals and scoring (10-3—23).
Anderson led the league in goals-allowed average (0.95) and shutouts (4). She made 2.79 saves per game.
Not many coaches scout Parker games, so Anderson's father put up a Web site for her and sent links to colleges. "It got good response; five coaches contacted me," she said.
Her only regret in choosing a college 24 miles from the Canadian border has been that "I'm used to going to the beach on a whim, and watching the sunset at the same time every night in Kamuela. It's getting dark so early here that it is paralyzing, like everybody hibernates. And forget the beach. But when it's nice out, it's gorgeous."
QUICK KICKS: Selected on the all-conference second team were junior goalkeeper Moani Mundo of Western Oregon (Castle '00) and senior forward Gabby Ahmadia of Humboldt State (Waiakea '99). Mundo ranked third in the conference in saves (4.28 per game) and goals allowed (1.26). Last year she was first team and Anderson was second team. Ahmadia led Humboldt State scoring with 18 points (8 goals and 2 assists), including three game-winning goals. Ahmadia's 16 career goals rank third on the Lumberjacks' career list.
