5 isle players play role in Pacific’s success

Five Hawaii players had roles in the Pacific University men's soccer team rebounding from a 2-15-2 record in 2005 to 10-6-1 last fall, the Boxers' best season since 1999.

Derek Atta (Aiea '02) logged the third-most minutes (1,388) at his midfield position while starting 16 of 17 matches. The senior was the third-leading scorer for the Boxers with two goals and two assists (six points).

Ricky Shinn (Pearl City '03), a junior midfielder, played in 15 matches. He started 13, scored one goal and set up three others.

Jared Komo (Makua Lani Christian '05) started 14 of the 17 matches he appeared in. The sophomore midfielder assisted on two goals.

Kevin Fujimoto (Kalani '06), a freshman midfielder, had one assist in 14 matches (11 starts).

Chris Caswell (Pearl City '04) saw limited action. The junior goalkeeper played just 31 minutes and allowed one goal.

The 8.5-game improvement was one of the top turnarounds in collegiate soccer last fall and ranks among the top turnarounds in NCAA Division III history, according to Pacific sports information director Blake Timm.

In checking other player accomplishments:

» Madison Perry (Kauai '04) was named to the Golden State Athletic Conference women's first team. The junior midfielder/defender played in 19 matches for the 13-5-2 Vanguard Lions, but didn't find the net with her nine shots.

» Colin Morikawa (Moanalua '05), a sophomore defender for Notre Dame de Namur Argonauts (13-5-2) of the NCAA Division II Pacific West Conference, scored once in 14 matches with his three shots on goal.

» Dane McCleary (Iolani '04), a redshirt sophomore defender, appeared in nine matches for the San Diego Toreros and took one shot.

» Two freshmen from Kapolei played for the Adams State Grizzlies in the NCAA Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Defender Melissa Kam saw action in two matches. Brooke Sorrell, listed as a goalkeeper on the Grizzlies' roster, appeared in 11 matches, all in the field.

» Allison Haines (Roosevelt '06) started five of the 16 matches she played for the Franklin Pierce (Rindge, N.H.) Ravens, winner of the Northeast-10 Conference title with an overall record of 18-3-1. The freshman defender's only shot came in NCAA Division II tournament quarterfinal round in a 2-1 loss to West Chester.

» Kenshiro Uki (Pearl City '04) and Brent Murakami (Mililani '04), both junior midfielders, played in 18 and 10 matches, respectively, for the 10-5-3 Whitworth Pirates. Uki has two assists and Murakami one.

More college commitments:

» Jasmine Pratt, a defender from Mililani, has signed a letter of intent to play for the Cal State Northridge Matadors this fall. She also considered Azusa Pacific, Idaho, New Mexico Highlands and Colorado State-Pueblo.

"I had a list of what I wanted from a school and Cal State was the only one that had everything," said Pratt, who played club soccer for the Honolulu Bulls and has a partial athletic scholarship.

» Erika Lum, a midfielder/striker from Mid-Pacific, had committed to Arizona State, but Sun Devils coach Ray Leone left to take the women's job at Harvard. Lum reconsidered and decided to attend Brown.

"I really liked the coach at ASU, but he is no longer there. Academically, Brown is much better," said Lum, who also played for the Bulls.

She visited the Providence, R.I., campus when the New England weather was at its worst.

"It was 6 degrees," Lum said.

Just for Kicks runs every other Friday in the Star-Bulletin. Al Chase can be reached at achase@starbulletin.com.