Kai gets call from U-21 team

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

UH forward Natasha Kai made the U-21 U.S. National Team after strong showings at two tryout camps. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

But the news definitely woke her up. Kai was selected to the U.S. Under-21 National Team yesterday, making her one of the few players from Hawai'i to make it so far in the U.S. National Team system.

"I was excited, I was just tripping," Kai said. "I'm still overwhelmed."

Kai, the two-time Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, will travel with the U-21 National Team to China for an international tournament from March 17 to 29.

She said she got the call from the team's liaison, who told her, "So, I assume you know that you're going to China."

Kai, a sophomore forward, said the news was unexpected because she was supposed to find out later this week.

National Team coaches made the decision yesterday after holding two tryout camps — one in late January, and the other was completed Sunday — at the National Training Center in Carson, Calif.

Kai attended both camps.

"I'm just delighted," UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "I'm beside myself with joy."

Kai said she will be competing for one of the three starting forward spots.

"I started in the last game (of the camp) and had an assist, and I'm assuming he went with the final 11 (players who will be starting) on the last day, but you never know," she said of her chances of earning a starting spot.

Regardless of whether she starts, she knows the impact this has on soccer in Hawai'i.

"I'm opening doors for other people now," she said. "It's hard because we are all the way over here in Hawai'i and don't get a lot of publicity."

Kai joins a couple of players from Hawai'i who were a part of the U.S. National Team system.

Brian Ching of Hale'iwa earned a cap — an international appearance — with the U.S. Men's National Team last May in an international friendly against Wales.

Samantha Obara, now Samantha Libed, of Pearl City, was a member of the U-20 National Team, which included future World Cup participants Tiffeny Milbrett, Tisha Venturini and Shannon MacMillan, that traveled to France and Norway for international tournaments in 1990.

The U-20 National Team used to be the highest level before the senior national team, but the national team system was restructured to the way it is today, with U-16, U-17, U-19, U-21 and the Senior National Team.

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