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Just For Kicks
Al Chase
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Punahou's Lau started for Harvard
HAWAII'S freshmen soccer players experienced varying degrees of success at mainland colleges last fall.
Rachael Lau made the transition from Punahou to NCAA Division I soccer at Harvard with ease. The midfielder earned a spot in first-year coach Stephanie Erickson's starting lineup and held it all season.
Lau (Punahou '05) scored once and assisted on four goals in 16 matches. She was the Crimson's third leading scorer with six points.
"I didn't really have clear expectations of our incoming freshmen because I didn't know a lot about them," Erickson said. "So, I can't say I was surprised at Rachael's contributions this year.
"She is incredibly technical and can serve a great ball with both feet. We asked a lot of her at outside mid and she really gave everything she had."
Jason Shon (University '05), a midfielder, saw action in eight matches for the NCAA Division III Whitman (Walla Walla, Wash.) College Missionaries. He had three starts and assisted on one goal for the 8-11-0 team.
John Chang (Iolani '05) played defense in 145 matches for the NCAA Division III Willamette Bearcats, who finished 5-14. Chang started eight times. He did not take a shot.
April Due (Kapolei '05, was the No. 2 goalkeeper for the Graceland (Lamoni, Iowa) Yellowjackets. She recorded a shutout in a 4-0 win vs. Morningside and played in the last 15 minutes of several other games, preserving shutouts.
"It is our hope that she will continue to work hard in the offseason and develop her leg strength and distribution to compete for the starting position next year as our starting keeper has just graduated," said Ivan Joseph, women's soccer coach at the NAIA school.
Britta Bourne (Academy of the Pacific '05) played in every match for the 3-13-1 Montana Grizzlies, starting 13. The striker put 15 of her 26 shots on goal, but had no luck finding the net. She had one assist.
Freshman striker Chelsea Arakawa (Pearl City '05), played in 15 matches for the Southern Oregon Raiders. She got one starting assignment, had one assist and guided four of her 10 shots on goal.
» The U.S. women's national team opened its 2006 season by winning the Four Nations Tournament. The Americans beat China 2-0 in the championship match on Jan. 23 at Guangzhou, China.
Captain Kristine Lilly scored both goals. She was playing in her 302nd game for the U.S.
Goalkeeper Hope Solo, who served as an instructor at the Honolulu Bulls Pro Extreme camp in December, made five saves and was active in coming off the line to intercept numerous balls played by China into the middle.
The U.S. also beat Norway 3-1 and tied France 0-0.
The U.S. under-20 women made the 2006 FIFA U-20 World Championship in Russia, Aug. 16 to Sept. 2, by winning the CONCACAF qualifying tourney with a 3-2 victory over Canada on Jan. 27.
