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Just For Kicks
Al Chase
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Hawaii to host 3 tourneys at complex in ’08
The Hawaii soccer community will host three tournaments next year that will once again showcase the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park complex
The first tournament is the Supra Oldies Sports International event, May 3-10, 2008. This is for men's teams in the over-35, over-45 and over-55 age divisions.
It is the first time the tournament will be held in the United States.
"We're trying to get teams from every continent," said Vic Peters, who led a Hawaii team to the tournament in Europe last summer.
"We're also trying to get a women's over-40 division going. Right now we don't know how many teams will be coming, but we are planning for 50."
The following month, the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association will host the 2008 U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships.
HYSA president Scott Keopuhiwa expects more then 240 teams for the event.
"We had 229 teams when we hosted in 2003 and that was the most teams ever for the Region IV Championships," Keopuhiwa said.
In July, the American Youth Soccer Organization will host the 2008 AYSO National Games. Hawaii hosted the 2002 event and close to 2,000 teams from coast to coast made the trip here.
Last summer 192 teams, including 15 from Hawaii, participated in the games held in Chicago.
The economic benefit to Hawaii from these tournaments is considerable because many of the players with the youth teams are accompanied by their families. Many extend their visit either before or after the tournament dates and travel to other islands.
In news from the college season last fall:
» Melissa Abellanida (King Kekaulike '06) made solid contributions to the Puget Sound Loggers, champions of the NCAA Division III Northwest League with a 15-1-4 overall record.
The freshman striker/midfielder played in all 20 matches and had four assists. Abellanida scored the winning goal from six yards out at 37:07 in the next-to-last regular-season match in PSU's 3-0 victory over Whitman. It was her only goal of the season.
» Kelsey Harrity (Konawaena '05) played in 19 matches, with 11 starts, for the 5-14-1 Lewis & Clark Pioneers.
The sophomore midfielder scored three goals on 10 of the 18 shots she put on goal. Harrity, who tied for third on the team with six points, had one match-winner when she scored an unassisted goal at 72:31 in a 3-2 win over Linfield on Oct. 27.
As a freshman she was on the Lewis & Clark team that compiled the best team grade-point average (3.60) among the 406 institutions that sponsor women's soccer at the NCAA Division III level.
» Jasmine Ah Choy (Moanalua '05), a sophomore defender, and Mari Nagamine (Moanalua '06), a freshman defender, played in eight and 10 matches, respectively, for George Fox College. Ah Choy also assisted on one goal for the 6-12-2 Bruins.