Tournament to be played on FieldTurf for first time

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	State champions Teams that have won the most state boys soccer titles: 14—Punahou (1976, 1977, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998) 7—Iolani (1974, 1975, 1979, 1987, 1988, 1997, 2000) 3—Mililani (2001, 2002, 2003) 2—Kalaheo (1984, 1993) 1—McKinley (1978) 1—Castle (1980) 1—Kaimuki (1981) 1—Pearl City (1999)

The teams will be playing on FieldTurf — a rubber-based, grasslike-bladed surface — which was installed in Aloha Stadium last year. Players will have to adjust to playing on a surface that is much faster than natural grass.

"The ball rolls truer, but not with a real bounce, like on a grass field," Mililani co-head coach Jeff Yamamoto said, whose team is the tournament's top seed.

He said because Interscholastic League of Honolulu schools — Kamehameha and Iolani in this state tournament — play on FieldTurf at Saint Louis' field, they have an advantage over everyone else.

"That means that when you make passes you know how much weight you are going to put in your pass, and that is pretty significant," Yamamoto said.

Mililani, No. 2 Iolani, No. 3 Baldwin and No. 4 Kealakehe receive byes into Thursday's quarterfinals.

"We'll have the day of rest, but we won't have the one day of experience on the field," Yamamoto said. "That tends to be a pretty significant factor."

The boys state tournament is being played at Aloha Stadium after last week's girls tournament was at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex, which has natural grass.

Keith Amemiya, executive director of the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association, was told the City and County of Honolulu, which runs the Waipi'o complex, does not allow its stadium to be used two weeks in a row, because of the wear and tear on the field, according to Dennis Anderson, HHSAA's director of information.

Baldwin on probation: Baldwin was placed on probation last year by the HHSAA executive board after an official was pushed to the ground by a Baldwin player after a state tournament game.

The board ruled that former Baldwin coach Fred Guzman is banned from coaching in state tournaments in any sport for five years, and the team is on "conduct probation" for one year, extending through this state tournament.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.