"I don't think they feel any more or less pressure than any of the groups before them," he said.

Because this is a new group, the team has a different personality, he said.

"We don't have that superstar group of players," he said. "This team has to be an extremely cohesive unit in order to be great."

However, Mililani "obviously" is still the team to beat, according to Iolani coach Chris Lee and Hawai'i Prep coach John Paul Mangarin.

Second-seeded Iolani (10-0-4) of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, No. 3 King Kekaulike (7-1-1) of the Maui Interscholastic League and No. 4 Hawai'i Prep (16-0) of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, all champions of their respective leagues, will also be top contenders.

"To get to this point in the season, you have to be doing something right," Lee said.

Hawai'i Prep features the state's top goal scorer, senior forward Cayson Peterson, who scored 25 goals, including six in the postseason. Other top goal scorers in the tournament are Leilehua's Syd Tom (16) Honoka'a's Jake Fassett (16), Kealakehe's Hookela Sanborn (15) and Pearl City's Steven King (14).

"All the teams in the tournament all have their good players and their athletes, that's why they are there," Lee said.

McGehee said the amount of goals scored, especially by non-O'ahu teams, concern him.

"These high-scoring teams bother me, because there are people out there that I know nothing about," McGehee said.

All three coaches pointed to ILH power Kamehameha and King Kekaulike as threats especially after Na Ali'i beat out four-time defending MIL champ Baldwin.

Lee said he doesn't "really see any team being a weak team" among the 12 in the tournament.

Mangarin said a dark horse of the tournament is "probably us; the Big Island teams are looked down on. We're kind of the underdogs and nobody knows us and I hope to use that to our advantage."

COMMITMENTS

Several Hawai'i soccer players signed National Letters of Intent with colleges in the signing period that began last Wednesday.

Mid-Pacific midfielder Mariko Strickland signed with San Diego State, and Punahou defender Kelsey Baker, a two-time Advertiser All-State first-team selection, verbally committed to Pepperdine, Leahi Soccer Club coach Scott Keopuhiwa said.

Mililani forward Sarah Yoro, the 2004 OIA Western Division Player of the Year, signed with Oregon after verbally committing in October.

Punahou midfielder Callum Trigg-Smith signed with St. Mary's (Calif.), his mother, Jill Watt Torrance, said. Trigg-Smith was also selected to the 2004 National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas High School Boys All-Region VIII (Far West) team.