Hawai'i team makes good impression behind Goo
• 2003 Snickers U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Alan Domingo, front, of Team Aces '84 (Hawai'i), goes up for a header against Pedro Batres of Team Eastside FC (Washington) at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Park.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Goo scored three goals — including two in the second half — to lead her girls-under-12 Ho'okalakupua team past the Tabagators, 3-1, on the opening day of the Snickers 2003 U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Park.
"She's a tough, little player," Tabagators' coach Saeed Bonabian said. "We figured out in 5 to 10 minutes we had to put somebody on her. But she found ways to get open."
Ho'okalakupua is one of 19 Hawai'i teams entered in the largest soccer tournament in Hawai'i history. The six-day, 212-team tournament is being hosted by Hawai'i for the first time and features about 4,000 players.
The Hawai'i teams went a combined 8-7-4 in yesterday's opening round.
Goo and her Ho'oka-lakupua team led the Hawai'i charge yesterday. The fifth-ranked Ho'okalakupua and the top-ranked San Diego Surf are considered two of the favorites in the girls-under-12 division, according to national rankings.
Ho'okalakupua won yesterday's game with passing, defense and Goo's finishing touch. The 12-year-old forward received help from her teammates who repeatedly threaded passes to her.
"We always work together," said Goo, an eighth-grader-to-be at Mililani Middle School. "And we play as a team."
Ho'okalakupua overcame their size disadvantage yesterday with experience and speed. The Hawai'i players routinely beat their opponents to loose balls and bounced back from hard collisions.
"We're not the biggest team, we're probably one of the smallest teams out here, if not the smallest," Ho'okalakupa coach Jason Goodson said. "But we got a ton of heart and we're extremely technical. They're a great set of kids. Most of them have been together since they were eight years old."
In the first half, Ho'okalakupua fell behind 1-0 off a goal by Stacey Brinkman. Zakya Bywaters was credited with an assist on the play.
Goo tied the game with a goal just before halftime. Teammate Katie Kamida launched a shot that deflected off the goalie's hands and Goo knocked the loose ball into the net.
"That changed the momentum," Bonabian said of the play. "They took over the rest of the game. The last 5 to 10 minutes we tried to come back and it was a little tougher."
Goo added two more goals in the second half off assists from Meleana Shim and Amber Fuller. On both goals, Goo hooked her right-footed shot around the goalie into the right corner of the goal.
"That's a good team," Bonabian said. "I think they're going far in this tournament. We have played all the top teams in this age division. They're one of the better ones."
Goodson said yesterday's game served as an example about the quality of Hawai'i soccer. He said the level of Hawai'i soccer has increased behind better competition, experienced coaching and players, and a solid soccer club foundation.
"Soccer is at a level that it's never been before," Goodson said. "We have great state association and there's not a lot of disparity between the clubs. All the teams are equal and they're battling week in and week out. So you get to a tournament like this and we're ready for the competition.
"As a whole, Hawai'i soccer is on the rise," Goodson continued. "We're coming and people better be ready."
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Yesterday's Results
For Hawai'i Teams
Boys
Under 19
Washington 4, Hawai'i-Wild 0
Hawai'i 9, Montana 0. Hawai'i Goal Scorers: Whitney Shimatsu 3, Ricky Shinn 2, Kevin Higaki, Robert Okahara, Christopher Rania, Christopher Castell.
Under 18
California-North 2, Hawai'i 2. Hawai'i Goal Scorers: Duke Hashimoto, Tamatoa Hackney.
Under 17
Hawai'i 3, Idaho 0. Hawai'i Goal Scorers: Justin Fajota, Nathan Amous, Brent Murakami.
Under 16
Hawai'i 1, Oregon 0. Hawai'i Goal Scorer: Callum Trigg-Smith.
Under 15
Idaho 2, Hawai'i 1. Hawai'i Goal Scorer: Cameron Holm.
Under 14
Washingon-Wild 2, Hawai'i 1. Hawai'i Goal Scorer: Keoki Haole.
Under 13
California-North 1 Hawai'i 1. Hawai'i Goal Scorer: Caiton Smith.
Under 12
California-South 8, Hawai'i-Wild 0
Hawai'i 3, Oregon 0. Hawai'i Goal Scorers: Lucas Lam, Brock Granger, Marc Hope.
GIRLS
Under 19
Hawai'i 4, Oregon 0. Hawai'i Goal Scorers: Liz Bogus 2, Mari Kasamoto, JoBette Nabarro.
Under 18
California-South 7, Hawai'i 0
Under 17
Colorado 0, Hawai'i 0
Under 16
Hawai'i 2, Idaho 0. Hawai'i Goal Scorer: Kelsie Look 2.
Under 15
New Mexico 3, Hawai'i 0
Under 14
California-South-Wild 2, Hawai'i 0
Under 13
Hawai'i-Wild 2, Idaho 0. Hawai'i Goal Scorers: Kimberely Morse, Jennifer Eugenio.
Arizona 2, Hawai'i 2. Hawai'i Goal Scorers: Ku'ulei Nanibaba, Charnelle Terawaki.
Under 12
Hawai'i 3, Nevada-Wild 1. Hawai'i Goal Scorer: Chelsey Goo 3.
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