Just For Kicks
Congratulations to James Uson and Jeff Yamamoto for guiding the Mililani High School girls and boys, respectively, to the Oahu Interscholastic Association and Hawaii High School Athletic Association state tournament soccer titles. Mililani pulls off rare feat
It is the first time a public school ever accomplished this and the first time since Punahou did it in 1998. Prior to that, Iolani in 1987 and Punahou in 1983, '85 and '86 were the only double winners.
Uson, who played for Leilehua when Wendell Staszkow coached the Mules, has been the Trojans head coach for six seasons. He served Mililani as an assistant for eight years after four years at Kaiser.
His assistants are younger brother John, Dennis Sanders and Ray Akiona.
Uson has a good core group returning led by state tournament all stars, goalkeeper Eryn Kishimoto and defenders Jen Loo and Mallory Iha.
Yamamoto played on the Seabury Hall club team in the Maui Men's League and collegiately for the Pacific (Ore.) Boxers. He has led the Trojans boys for eight years and sees more good things happening in the future.
"I think we will get better because of the youth programs outside the school. We have great leaders with the Mililani Soccer Club and work closely with them," Yamamoto said.
His assistants this year were Steve McGehee, Norman Beter and Joshua Rolf.
Yamamoto, who runs a conditioning program for any player interested during the summer, is an engineer with the Navy. Uson works for UPS at the Honolulu Airport.
Keeping in touch
Andrew Brown (Mililani) won the starting goalkeeper's job for the Creighton Bluejays as a sophomore. He gave up 26 goals in 1,598 minutes of action for a 1.46 goals allowed average, made 64 saves and posted for shutouts. The Bluejays qualified for their tenth consecutive NCAA Tournament.
The Western Oregon Wolves received solid contributions from four Hawaii players en route to the co-championship with Seattle University of the Great Northwest Conference.
Moani Mundo, a sophomore goalkeeper from Castle had a 1.72 goals allowed average in 17 matches with 96 saves and four shutouts. She missed three matches with a knee injury.
Erin Ota, a freshman midfielder from Maryknoll, scored three goals and had four assists in 20 matches.
Julia Takashita, a freshman defender from Kailua High School scored once and assisted on another goals in 145 matches.
Carly Mamizuka,a freshman defender from Kahuku High School scored one goal in the 10 matches she played.
Chris Pagoyo returned to the soccer field this year after playing football for four seasons for the Bethel College (Kansas) Threshers.
"He started about two-thirds of our games as a wing defender. Not having played much soccer in recent years, he was a bit rusty, but overall did a good job," said Bethel coach Gerry Sieber.
Doug Crowley, a junior midfielder from Punahou, played in 12 matches and found the net once for the 9-7-2 Emory University Eagles.
Jennifer Hall, a freshman striker from Kaiser, played in nine matches for the Whitworth Pirates (7-10-1), who tied for fourth place in the Northwest Conference. She took six shots, but did not score.