Baldwin still bears watching in states

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

WAILUKU, Maui — The members of Baldwin's girls soccer team are eager to show they are better than "nothing."

Baldwin coach Kawika Keator, middle, has relied on teamwork, from left, Lauren Amano, Noe Bio, Kehani Suzuki and Whitney Takeyama for a 9-1-0 record and No. 3 seed in the HHSAA/Meadow Gold Dairies Girls State Soccer Championship, which starts tomorrow. Christie Wilson • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Everyone thinks that because our star player has graduated, we have nothing," senior midfielder Noelani Bio said. "It's just old already."

The Bears, state champions in 2000 and 2001, are the third seed in the HHSAA/Meadow Gold Dairies Girls State Soccer Championship starting tomorrow.

"In the past, we had to look up to a certain star player," senior midfielder/defender Whitney Takeyama said. "But now we have to have confidence in all our teammates."

Baldwin's state championship teams featured two-time state Player of the Year Garbin, 2002 co-State Player of the Year Mahie Atay, four-time All-State first-team pick Koren Takeyama, and Kapaku, a two-time All-State first-team selection.

"A lot of times they used to key on one person, but now, anybody can hurt you," Baldwin coach Kawika Keator said.

Even without any returning All-State players, Baldwin (9-1-0) won its seventh straight Maui Interscholastic League title, something the players said people doubted they could do again this season.

"Kami was the last of them, and everyone was like, 'Oh,' " Bio said. "And then look what happens. It makes you mad."

"When we won, that was the greatest feeling in the world," said senior defender Kehani Suzuki, who said the Maui News picked the Bears to finish fourth. "Nobody can say anything about us anymore."

This year, the strength of the team is no longer in one or two players, but the ability to share the work load.

"Everyone thinks it's just a couple of people, or star players," Bio said. "Everyone knows that we need each other, and so we all play together."

Whitney Takeyama, Koren's younger sister, added: "Now everyone is good. In order to win we have to do it as a team and not rely on one person to do it for us."

This year's four seniors were freshmen the year after Baldwin won its second state championship, and entered at a time when expectations were high for the team.

"That was intimidating, because I had to meet their standards," Suzuki said.

Since then, the Bears have one second-place finish, losing to Mililani in penalty kicks in 2002, and placed fifth the previous two years.

Without any big-name players for other teams to key on, the Bears are hoping that maybe a little anonymity can work for them this season.

"Going into states, maybe it is an advantage," Suzuki said. "This year, they don't know what to expect."

Senior midfielder Lauren Amano added: "It actually feels kind of good. Because when people play us, they have to watch all of us."

Amano said the key to the team's success is its ability to get along off the field, saying, "we're just one big happy family."

Keator said: "This is the closest team that I've ever had, they do everything together. Usually you have certain cliques here and there, but this team, everyone seems to get along. They work well together.

"They kind of know each other, and where they're going to run and where to pass the ball. The chemistry off the field is translating on the field."

The Bears face stiff competition in this year's state tournament, with two-time defending state champion and top-seeded Punahou (8-2-2), which features two-time All-State first-team defender Kelsey Baker, and reigning Interscholastic League of Honolulu co-Offensive Player of the Year Rachael Lau.

"Punahou has to be the best, I wasn't surprised when I saw them seeded No. 1," Keator said. "They're the defending champs, and they're always strong."

Second-seeded 'Aiea (12-1-1), of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association, has one of the hottest forward tandems in the state in senior Tobi Kanehira and junior Ambree Ako, who have combined to score 30 goals in the regular and postseason. All-State senior defender Tehane Higa recently signed with the University of Hawai'i.

"'Aiea won the OIA, but I still think Mililani, Pearl City are still going to be up there," Keator said.

Fourth-seeded Hilo (15-2) junior forward Katrina Chong has scored 25 goals this season, including 20 in 13 regular-season matches.

"If it's the same as the boys, it looks like the Neighbor Island teams look to have a strong showing," Keator said.

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