Posted on: Wednesday, October 24, 2007
HOMEGROWN REPORT
New Mexico State football players hope to make trip home to play UH
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
The football game between the University of Hawai'i and New Mexico State Saturday will draw the interests of many across the state, but not just Warrior fans.
The visiting Aggies (4-4 overall, 1-2 Western Athletic Conference) feature 10 players with Hawai'i ties on their roster.
They are linebackers Ka'ua Adolpho (Kahuku '02 of Kahuku), La'Auli Fonoti (Kahuku '04 of Kahuku), Derek Hinkley (Punahou '04 of Kane'ohe), Dylan Moss (Saint Louis '04 of Kailua), Siaosi Tafuna (Kahuku '07 of Kahuku) and Russell Wantowski (Radford '06 of Honolulu); and defensive linemen Oren Long (Saint Louis '03 of Honolulu), Ray Manumaleuna (Kahuku '01 of La'ie), Kawika Shook (Kamehameha '06 of Kapolei) and Ana Tuiasosopo (Saint Louis '07 of Honolulu).
"We're going to try and bring all of them," said NMSU defensive line coach Mike Fanoga, referring to the team's fifth road trip of the season.
Fanoga, who has been head coach Hal Mumme's lead recruiter of Hawai'i, will be visiting high school players during the Aggies' stay.
"It's a great place to find football players," Fanoga said. "One of the best places in the country to recruit right now. Everybody in the West Coast — Pac-10, Mountain West, top caliber programs — they're all trying to get Hawai'i kids."
Unlike some recruiters, Fanoga is straight forward with prospective players.
"I bring them on campus and if they like it, hopefully they'll commit," he said. "I want the honest truth and they just want an opportunity."
Fonoti, a 6-foot-4, 253-pounder, has made the most of his opportunity. The junior outside linebacker is fourth on the team in tackles with 35. He has also recorded 4 1/2 sacks and one fumble recovery.
"He has really helped the program on the defensive side by making plays here and there," Fanoga said. "He's very quiet, but when he's on the field, everybody notices him. He's the one that everyone is counting on."
Manumaleuna, a senior, started at nose tackle in last week's 45-31 win over Idaho and has accumulated 14 tackles with one sack this season.
Moss, Long and Adolpho have mostly been used on special teams.
New Mexico State has performed a haka during pregame in the past, but did not last week.
"I really hope we do it; maybe it'll help us this week," said Fanoga.
If they do perform the haka, Fonoti won't have to wait till game time to make his presence felt. He'll be leading the Aggies in the traditional Maori war chant.
MORE FOOTBALL
Colorado senior linebacker Jordon Dizon (Waimea '04) had a team-high 12 tackles, including one for loss, in a 19-14 loss to Kansas Saturday. Dizon has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Dick Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker, last week.
Freshman Kai Maiava (Baldwin '07 of Wailuku) started at left guard for Colorado.
Washington junior defensive end Daniel Te'o-Nesheim (Hawai'i Prep '04 of Waikoloa) had six tackles in a 55-34 loss to Oregon. Senior defensive tackle Wilson Afoa (Saint Louis '03 of Honolulu) had two tackles, both for losses, including a sack.
Whitworth (Spokane, Wash.) senior running back Chris Ahsing (Campbell '03 of 'Ewa Beach) scored the first touchdown in a 38-34 loss at Azusa Pacific Saturday. Ahsing capped a 12-play, 76-yard drive with a 5-yard run. He finished with 21 carries for 96 yards.
Idaho freshman defensive back Jojo Dickson (Baldwin '07 of Wailuku) had five tackles in a 45-31 loss at New Mexico State.
Saddleback College (Mission Viejo, Calif.) freshman running back Micah Abreu-Laybon (Leilehua '07 of Wahiawa) led all rushers with 137 yards on 10 carries in a 42-31 win over Pasadena City College Saturday. He also returned five kickoffs for 83 yards.
Lancers' freshman running back Gabe Tuata (Kealakehe '07 of Kailua Kona) had a 5-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Sophomore linebacker Kapena Fonseca ('Aiea '06 of 'Aiea) had an interception return of 28 yards and a team-high eight tackles.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Hofstra (Hempstead, N.Y.) senior setter Shellane Ogoshi (Roosevelt '04 of Honolulu) broke the school record for career digs in a five-game win over Northeastern Saturday. Ogoshi had 26 digs, 59 assists and a career-high nine kills. She has 1,547 digs in her career for the Pride. Ogoshi was named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week, her second time in as many weeks.
Nevada freshman outside hitter Kylie Harrington (St. Francis '07 of Honolulu) had eight kills on 21 swings and six digs in a sweep of Louisiana Tech Saturday.
Pepperdine senior middle blocker Lecca Roberts (Seabury Hall '04 of Kula) had a team-high 17 kills in a five-game loss at St. Mary's Saturday. Roberts, who was the Maui Interscholastic League's player of the year in 2003, hit .448 for the match. Waves' freshman reserve setter Kealohilani Kea (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) had 12 digs.
St. Mary's (Moraga, Calif.) sophomore middle blocker Megan Burton ('Iolani '06 of Kapolei) had a pair of kills and freshman setter Kapua Kamana'o ('Iolani '07 of Honolulu) had 68 assists and seven digs.
Pacific University (Forest Grove, Ore.) senior setter Anela Iseke (Kamehameha '04 of Hau'ula) had 47 assists and 15 digs in a four-game win over Lewis & Clark (Portland, Ore.) and 60 assists and 24 digs in a five-game victory over Puget Sound Saturday. Freshman backup setter Lia Nishikura (Mililani '07 of Mililani) added four digs.
Loggers' sophomore defensive specialist Leigh Sumida ('Iolani '06 of Kane'ohe) had 11 digs and cousin Kris Sumida ('Iolani '07 of Kane'ohe), a freshman setter, had three digs and an ace.
South Dakota State (Brookings, S.D.) freshman setter Melia Iwamoto (Kalani '07 of Honolulu) had 60 assists in a four-game loss to North Dakota State Sunday. Iwamoto's 1,073 assists this season already puts her at ninth-best in Jackrabbits' history.
East Tennessee State (Johnson City, Tenn.) senior outside hitter Kaena Apana (Nanakuli '04 of Wai'anae) had 26 digs and an ace in a three-game win over Campbell (Buies Creek, N.C.) Saturday.
MEN'S SOCCER
St. Mary's (Moraga, Calif.) junior midfielder Justin Kim (Mililani '04 of Mililani) had an assist in a 1-0 win over Loyola Marymount Sunday. Kim fed a cross to Scott Eberhardt in the 29th minute.
Gonzaga senior goalkeeper Vito Higgins (Pac-Five/Academy of the Pacific '03 of Kailua) made a career-high 11 saves in a 1-1 tie at No. 3 Santa Clara Sunday.
Sacramento State junior forward Blake Nunes (Baldwin '04 of Wailuku) was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation/Brine Player of the Week Monday after scoring a goal in a pair of Hornets' wins over Denver and Air Force last week.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Air Force sophomore midfielder/forward Ashley Collins (Punahou '04 of Mililani) had an assist in a 3-2 loss at Utah Thursday. The Falcons (2-11-2, 0-4 Mountain West) have dropped their last seven games.
Puget Sound sophomore midfielder/forward Melissa Abellanida (King Kekaulike '06 of Pukalani) had an assist in a 4-0 win over Pacific Lutheran a week ago and scored in Saturday's victory over Linfield by the same score. The fourth-ranked Loggers are 16-0 overall and 12-0 in the Northwest Conference.
Pacific University (Forest Grove, Ore.) freshman midfielder Lauren Kanda (Castle '07 of Kane'ohe) scored the Boxers' goal in a 5-1 loss at Pacific Lutheran Saturday. She had five shots, including four on goal.
Fresno State freshman midfielder Stephanie Yoro (Mililani '07 of Mililani) scored the game-winning goal, a free kick from 30 yards out, in the 79th minute of a 1-0 win over Utah State Sunday. The Bulldogs are 8-6 overall, 3-1 in the Western Athletic Conference.
Penn freshman midfielder/defender Marisa Schoen (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) scored her first collegiate goal in the 30th minute of a 2-1 win over Yale Saturday.
Schoen's former Buffanblu teammate, sophomore Sophie Merrifield (Punahou '06 of Honolulu), started at defender for the Bulldogs.
Occidental (Los Angeles) freshman forward Jesi Sasaki ('Iolani '07 of Mililani) scored the game-winner in the third minute of overtime of a 2-1 win over Redlands.
WOMEN'S GOLF
Idaho senior Kelly Nakashima (Baldwin '04 of Wailuku) finished third at last week's Price's Give Em Five Intercollegiate in Las Cruces, N.M. Nakashima's 5-over 221 helped the Vandals finish second as a team.
Stanford junior Mari Chun (Kamehameha '05 of Pearl City) finished tied for eighth at the Stanford Intercolleigate that concluded Sunday. Chun shot a 4-over 217 in the 54-hole tournament.
Portland State junior Kayla Morinaga (Sacred Hearts '05 of Waipahu) finished in a tie for 17th at last week's Lady Aztec Fall Classic in Chula Vista, Calif. Morinaga shot an 8-over 152 (36 holes) as the Vikings finished tied for 11th.
HONORS
Cleveland State's Sarah Galon (Leilehua '03 of Wai'anae) was named one of six recipients nationally of the NCAA Sportsmanship Award earlier this month. Galon is the representative for NCAA Division I female for the 2006-2007 year. Galon, who compiled a 79-48 career singles record and a 76-46 doubles mark, completed her eligibility in April.
COMMITMENTS
Jacob Ho (Kamehameha '06) has signed to play basketball at Foothill College (Los Altos Hills, Calif.).
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
