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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, March 14, 2008

Tanaka led Chargers' stingy defense

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Amy Tanaka

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Frank Baumholtz III

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Tracee Kono

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Behind the stellar play of senior defender Amy Tanaka, the Pearl City girls soccer team accomplished the remarkable feat of not allowing a goal all season.

"She's been the heart and soul of the defense and this is the first year she's been recognized for that," Pearl City co-head coach Tracee Kono said.

Tanaka was named the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West Girls Player of the Year in a vote by league coaches.

"She's been the most consistent for the past three years," Kono said of Tanaka, who plays on the left.

"She has the vision to see the whole field," Kono said of of her coachable captain. "We play three fullbacks and she always marks their best forward. She's just the overall package. She made my job a lot easier as a coach."

Pearl City, which won the OIA Red West after going undefeated, placed three on the first team: forward Meghan Fuller, who scored 12 goals, midfielder Kaitlyn Holt, and Tanaka.

Kapolei had a division-high four players picked to the first team. High-scoring forwards Chelsie Swann, who led the Red West with 15 goals, and Liana Gualdarama, who scored nine goals, and defender Chaney Lopez and goalkeeper Ashlee Dela Cruz earned the honor.

Mililani's first-team selections are midfielders Chelsey Goo and Allison Kagawa and defender Chelsea Miyake.

'Aiea had two first-team members: midfielder Jacquie Watkins, who scored 12 goals, and defender Kori Nishi.

Fuller, Gualdarama and Lopez are repeat first-team selections.

Pearl City co-head coaches Frank Baumholtz III and Kono earned OIA Red West Coaches of the Year honors, after the Chargers won the division and outscored their opponents 51-0.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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