Her love for the game has carried through to college, where Sugai, a senior midfielder for the University of Hawai'i women's team, prepares to play in her final home matches.

Hawai'i hosts the Western Athletic Conference tournament, which starts today, for the first time in school history. The Rainbow Wahine earned the right to host after finishing in a tie for the regular-season WAC title last season.

Hawai'i, the No. 4 seed, plays No. 5 Tulsa at 7:30 tonight. K5 (Channel 5) will broadcast the match live.

Third-seeded UTEP and No. 6 Fresno State play at 5 p.m. Top-seeded Southern Meth-odist and No. 2 Rice received byes into tomorrow's semifinals. Matches will be played at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

The winner of the WAC tournament earns a berth into the NCAA tournament.

The 5-foot-1 Sugai is probably not much taller than she was when she first started kicking the ball. But she has grown into a non-stop presence on the field, defending the goal at one end, and setting up goals on the other end. She is second on the school's career assist list with 19 — including a career-high six this season.

She has started a school-record 80 straight matches, playing in every single match since her freshman year.

"I just love to play, I've been playing all my life," Sugai said. "I know nothing else, I guess."

Voters in the College Sports Information Directors of America and National Soccer Coaches Association of American/adidas selection committees would disagree.

The marketing major was named to the 2003 CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII first team and NSCAA All-West Region Scholar third team after earning a 3.86 grade point average last year and is a two-time academic all-WAC selection.

"She's an exceptional individual and gifted athlete," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "She combined the two to make her one of the best student-athletes that I've ever had."

Sugai, a two-time All-State player, was recruited her junior year at 'Aiea High School and committed early to Hawai'i.

"She could have gone anywhere, there were lots of coaches who were looking at her," Tenzing said.

Sugai said she doesn't regret her decision to stay at home.

"Looking back, I enjoyed my four years," she said. "There were ups and downs, but for the most part I had fun, and it was a great experience."

After starting in her freshman year and setting a record for assists by a freshman with five, Tenzing selected her as a team captain in her sophomore season.

"I was very nervous, as a sophomore you're not an upperclassman, so I didn't expect people to listen to me," Sugai said. "As a sophomore, I just tried to lead by example.

"As a captain, people look to you to control the team, so I had to be more vocal."

Tenzing said he chose Sugai for "all the attributes she brings: leadership, the quality of her character, her playing ability and her academics."

She likely showed leadership skills she learned as a two-time class president at 'Aiea, where she also was an all-conference first-team pick as a defensive specialist in volleyball and started on the school's state championship basketball team.

Sugai plans to continue playing soccer after her eligibility expires this season. She will likely play in California in a semi-pro league.

"I know I'm nothing else but soccer, or sports," she said. "When I look back now, I realize how much you learn so many different things that prepare you for life. You have to cooperate with each other and work together."

She has been playing soccer for more than 17 years, but claims no memory of her eager beginning in the sport, when her soccer jersey doubled as pajamas.

"I don't remember that!" she said.

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

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SOCCER TOURNAMENT TEAMS

In order of seeding

Southern Methodist (13-3-3, 6-1-1)

SMU defeated Hawai'i, 3-2, in Dallas, despite Hawai'i taking a 2-0 lead into the half on two goals by Natasha Kai. Her first goal came 16 seconds into the game. Hawai'i is 0-7-1 against the Mustangs (although its lone tie was at home), the only team it has not beaten in the conference. The Mustangs were ranked as high as No. 20 this season. SMU is led by all-WAC first teamer Olivia O'Rear (12 goals, 10 assists) and WAC Freshman of the Year Kimber Bailey (11 goals). All-WAC first team sophomore forward Adria Campbell (8 goals, 1 assist) is a 2003 Punahou graduate.

No. 2 Rice (13-3-3, 5-2-1)

Hawai'i defeated Rice, 1-0, at home. Hawai'i has a 4-3 advantage in the overall series, but is 2-0 against Rice at home. The nine seniors were a part of the first women's soccer program at Rice four seasons ago. Rice has succeeded in eliminating Hawai'i from the past two WAC tournaments. In a soccer diary regarding the regular season meeting between the teams on Rice's Web site, all-WAC senior defender Caitlin Currie wrote, "We need to ... really give Hawai'i a game they are not expecting. I can't wait to hear what excuses their coach will come up with this year." Rice is led by all-WAC second team member Clory Martin (7 goals, 3 assists) and the WAC Player of the Year, goalkeeper Lauren Shockley (WAC-leading 0.55 goal against average).

No. 3 Texas-El Paso (12-4-1, 5-2-1)

Hawai'i lost to UTEP, 2-1. The Rainbow Wahine are tied with the Miners (3-3) in the overall series, but have won all three games at home. On the road, Hawai'i has been outscored 6-3, but has outscored the Miners 11-2 at home. UTEP is led by Christine McCartney (7 goals, 8 assists), Jami Tullius (9 goals, 2 assists), and Cara Nordin (8 goals, 3 assists).

No. 4 Hawai'i (12-6-2, 5-3)

Hawai'i started the season strong on the road (5-0-1) and struggling at home (2-2-1), but once the WAC started, that all changed. The Rainbow Wahine won all their home games (4-0) and faltered on the road (1-3, plus a loss to San Francisco). Coach Pinsoom Tenzing credits their struggles to injuries to starting goalkeeper Mahie Atay and midfielder/forward Gabrielle Bohlman. The four years Hawai'i has qualified for the WAC tournament, its only two wins came in 2001, over Boise State and Rice. This is the first year Hawai'i plays host to the WAC tournament. The Rainbow Wahine are led by junior forward Natasha Kai (12 goals, 5 assists).

No. 5 Tulsa (7-9-3, 4-3-1)

Hawai'i defeated Tulsa, 2-0, at home. Hawai'i has a 5-1 series advantage, and is 3-0 against Tulsa at home. Hawai'i has outscored Tulsa 13-1 the past four years. In a soccer diary regarding the regular season meeting between the teams on Tulsa's Web site, junior midfielder Jamie German wrote, "Coach (Rena) Richardson pointed out how lackadaisical Hawai'i was during their warm-up. Our record is not the greatest and I am sure they did not think there was reason for respect." Tulsa is led by all-WAC midfielder Carrie Schnarre (8 goals, 4 assists) and goalkeeper Pam Devore (0.87 goals against average).

No. 6 Fresno State (5-8-4, 2-3-3)