Posted on: Thursday, November 4, 2004

UH's Kai, Sugai chosen all-WAC first team

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Five players from Hawai'i were awarded all-conference honors at the Western Athletic Conference banquet last night at the University of Hawai'i.

Hawai'i junior forward Natasha Kai earned her third straight first-team selection, and senior midfielder Joelle Sugai was rewarded with her first first-team honor, after earning second-team honors last season.

UH senior forward Robyn deHay earned her second straight all-WAC selection, with a second team nod, after being a first-teamer last season. Senior defender Krystalynn Ontai was also selected to the second team, her first all-WAC honor.

Selections were made by WAC coaches.

Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing was pleased to see Sugai and Ontai take a step up in the awards. "They do everything in the service of the team and it doesn't show in the statistics," he said. "I'm glad they were recognized."

Kai led the Rainbow Wahine with 12 goals, and added five assists, and her five conference goals were second in the league.

"I'm happy I got this award, but everything I do is from the team," Kai said.

Sugai had a career-high six assists to lead Hawai'i.

"She proved herself and they saw what she was capable of doing," Kai said.

DeHay had three goals and three assists, and her nine points were fourth on the UH team.

"I wish the coaches had seen what I saw with my team, but that's life," Tenzing said, sounding somewhat disappointed that Kai and deHay were the only Hawai'i forwards honored. "I nominated three to four forwards, and I got two so I'm happy with that."

Ontai helped anchor Hawai'i's defense, which allowed 1.10 goals per game, including three shutouts, in conference play.

Southern Methodist junior midfielder Adria Campbell, a 2003 Punahou graduate from Kailua, was selected to the first team. Campbell scored eight goals and added an assist, and was named the WAC Player of the Week Oct. 11.

Rice goalkeeper Lauren Shockley was named Player of the Year, succeeding Kai, who held the title the previous two years. Shockley set a league record with six shutouts.

Southern Methodist defender Kimber Bailey was named the WAC Freshman of the Year, and Rice's Chris Huston was named Coach of the Year after leading the Owls to a second-place finish and 13-3-3 record (5-2-1 WAC).

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