Posted on: Saturday, April 23, 2005
Rainbow Wahine get boost from 6 recruits
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i women's soccer team signed six players for the 2005 season, including three players from Hawai'i.
The incoming group should help solidify a strong core of returning players, including three-time all-Western Athletic Conference player Natasha Kai.
"We've watched (the recruits) a lot," Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "I've followed them across the country, from California to Florida, watching different conditions and times in the tournament."
Hawai'i products include midfielder Elizabeth Brauher, out of Waiakea High, forward Taryn Fukuroku of Maui High, and 'Aiea defender Tehane Higa.
Midfielder Liza Amaya of Centennial, Colo., forward Aimee Cohen of Penngrove, Calif., and goalkeeper Kori Lu of San Clemente, Calif., also signed with UH.
"Every year, the quality of players is improving; in the beginning we carried kids who really weren't as proficient as kids are now playing," Tenzing said. "They'll change the quality of practices. Whether they'll break into the first 11 or not, we have yet to see."
Brauher is a two-time Olympic Development Program Region IV pool player, qualifying for the elite team comprised of about 50 players from around the region, which includes people from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, in 2003 and 2004.
Fukuroku has been one of the Maui Interscholastic League's top offensive threats, scoring 16 goals as a junior and 11 her senior year. Her brother, Royce, plays baseball for the University of San Francisco.
Higa is a four-year starter and two-time Advertiser All-State first-team selection, and is "an absolute destroyer on defense," Tenzing said.
Amaya's father, Rafael Amaya, played professionally in Columbia's First Division, as well as for the San Jose Clash (now Earthquakes) and Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.
Cohen was her high school's leading scorer three straight years, scoring 25 goals as a senior.
Lu helped lead her club team to the Under-15 girls title at the 2002 US Youth Soccer Championships in Maryland, and was awarded the adidas Golden Glove award for top goalkeeper in the tournament.
Eleven UH players completed their eligibility last season, including three all-WAC selections. Those seniors helped UH win 45 games in a four-year span and capture the school's first-ever WAC regular-season championship.
Tenzing, who also lost all three starters on defense, said Hawai'i is experimenting in its spring camp, which concludes in about two weeks, including pulling some of his "top-notch attackers" to the defense.
"All of the positions are up for grabs," he said. "We have a lot of soccer players, they can play anywhere, and we need to train them to play the new system.
"It's been really, really terrific; the kids are really sold on the way we're asking them to play."
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
