Soccer bar raised after Bulls bring home title

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Honolulu Soccer Club Bulls '85 boys recorded a momentous achievement for Hawai'i youth soccer last weekend, setting a new standard for the state's 25,000 youth who play the sport.

The Bulls became Hawai'i's first U.S. Youth Soccer Association Far West Regionals champion, and soccer enthusiasts hope it is the catalyst for more.

"This regional was groundbreaking," Hawai'i Youth Soccer Association president Scott Keopuhiwa said. "I sat there and watched that game and I saw most of the younger teams (from Hawai'i) watching that game. These boys winning it showed the younger kids that it is possible."

The Bulls defeated the Irvine Strikers, 2-1, in penalty kicks Saturday at Spokane, Wash.

"It's going to be a chain reaction," Bulls midfielder Richie Higa said. "Once someone raises the level, I think everyone is going to try and beat that. The younger soccer community is going to step up and I think they're going to bring another one home."

USYSA, widely considered the most competitive youth soccer league in the nation, has produced U.S. National team and college players.

Boys and girls from California, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Hawai'i, in divisions from under-12 to under-19, participated in the Far West Regionals.

The Bulls, competing in the under-19 age division, advanced to the USYSA national championships at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, July 20 to 25.

"Seeing it actually happen is a great experience and it will make every player in Hawai'i know that they can achieve those things," Keopuhiwa said.

The trend for Hawai'i soccer has been that teams traveling to Mainland tournaments have become more competitive.

"I used to take teams to the regionals in the '80s and we'd get smashed because the level of competition was different," Mililani Soccer Club coach Jeff Yamamoto said.

At last week's regionals, 13 of the 17 Hawai'i teams advanced to the quarterfinals, and of those, six advanced to the semifinals.

"There was a time when we were happy to send teams to regionals, then we were happy to just win a game," Keopuhiwa said. "Now the bar is set differently and we go up there not expecting to win only a game but to win the whole thing."

Ho'okalakupua Futbol Academy, an under-13 girls team, was the other team from Hawai'i to advance to the finals.

"I think it was phenomenal, it was one of the best years the state has ever had," Ho'okalakupua coach Jason Goodson said. "I think it's a direct reflection upon the quality of players in Hawai'i."

Ho'okalakupua made it to the finals for the second straight year, but lost to San Diego Surf White, 1-0, on penalty kicks.

"The state is no longer the doormat of the region. I think it's just a matter of time until things get bigger and better for the state," Goodson said. "The success we had this year is just an example of what is to come."

Goodson's captain, Punahou student Lauren Wong, 13, watched the Bulls capture the championship.

"It shows that even if we're a small island, we can have success in a bigger tournament and move on," she said. "At first, we were glad that another team had made it to the finals; our team wanted to be the first from Hawai'i to win, but we didn't and we were glad they were there to represent Hawai'i."

Not only did the Bulls capture Hawai'i's first USYSA regional title, but two other teams from Hawai'i won regional championships for U.S. Club Soccer, a growing, complementary league of USYSA.

The Mililani Soccer Club under-13 boys gold team and Real Hawai'i's under-12 girls team captured titles at the regional in Las Vegas from June 12 to 15. Both advanced to the National Cup III at Cary, N.C., July 22 to 25.

"Even at the U.S. Club soccer tournament, a lot of the teams did really well," Mililani's Yamamato said. "Overall, we're matching up quite well with them, we're winning a lot of them. A lot of coaches up there are thinking, 'We're not going to take these guys lightly.' "

Mililani Soccer Club defeated the Neusport Tabigators of Las Vegas, 4-0, in Division I, and Real Hawai'i beat the Lamorinda Soccer Club of California, 1-0, in the premier division.

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