UH's Kai making run at U.S. team
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Natasha Kai was told by the U.S. Under-21 Team coach that she has a good chance to make the team.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser |
"Being called back again is as close to making the team as possible. I'm sure there is one more evaluation, but she's jumped a big hurdle." Hawai'i assistant coach Bob Barry said. "To get that second invitation, that has to be a tremendous boost to her chances of making it."
Kai, the two-time Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, was one of 24 players at the National Training Center in Carson, Calif., from Jan. 23 through Sunday. She found out last Saturday that she would be invited back to a second camp, Feb. 16-22.
She is the first player — man or woman — from Hawai'i to reach this level.
"(National Team coach Chris Petrucelli) told us at the beginning of the camp that he wasn't inviting any of us back to the second camp because he wanted to look at new people," said Kai, who said there were five other players who she knew of who received a second invitation.
"He (Petrucelli) told me I have a good chance of making the team, I just have to work on some stuff. He said he really wants me to make the team," she said.
Kai, who led the nation with 29 goals last season, scored two goals and had four assists in a tournament that featured the U-17, U-19 and U-21 national teams.
After the second camp, a team of 18 to 20 players will be selected for an international tournament with the U-21 National Team in China next month.
"She's the first player we've had that is truly a national-team candidate," Barry said.
Kai will miss the start of spring training with the Rainbow Wahine soccer team, which begins Feb. 18 and runs through April. Kai will also not join the UH softball team, because of her obligations to the national team.
• Kai was named to the Soccer Buzz All-America third team and the West Region first team, UH announced yesterday.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
