Just For Kicks
DARREN Juliano really wanted to continue his soccer career at the NCAA Division I level after graduating from Damien. Little man comes
up big for HPUBut Division I coaches never knocked at the door of the 1999 Interscholastic League of Honolulu Player of the Year.
"I'm only 5-4," said Juliano.
Height, however, was never a factor for Frank Doyle, head men's soccer coach at NCAA Division II Hawaii Pacific.
"You could see he was a player in high school," Doyle said. "Darren is just a non-stop, never-give-up type of player."
A few days before the Sea Warriors opened their 1999 season, Doyle indicated he was pleased with the strides Juliano was making in fall practice sessions.
Doyle probably wasn't expecting his freshman striker to lead the Sea Warriors in scoring with seven goals, but that's exactly what Juliano did.
He tied with Tony Stephanov (6 goals, 2 assists) for the Sea Warriors' points lead with 14.
Juliano also finished third in the Pacific West Conference in shots per game (3.1) and goals per game (0.6).
Acknowledging that the transition from high school to college was a big change, Juliano said, "I learned a lot more because the coaches concentrate more on you as an individual in terms of what you can give to the team.
"I learned a lot of tactics. The coaches emphasized coming back to the ball and that really changed my game. It kept me in the game more."
Juliano scored his first goal in the 89th minute of HPU's opener against Willamette and that took care of his nervousness for the rest of the season.
He would have favored instant replay on one HPU goal this season that was scored directly off his cross.
"I guess the scorer didn't see the play. He gave the assist to my teammate, who was congratulating our goal scorer," Juliano said. "But I've got three more years (to get assists), so I didn't open my mouth."
"He has a nose for the ball, speed, great ball control and quickness," Doyle said. "It's nice to find a player like that in Hawaii and keep him home."
The first step in finding an operator from the private sector to join the City and County of Honolulu as a financial partner in the development and operation of the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park is complete.
The Department of Parks and Recreation received three requests for information and is in the process of evaluating them in order to advertise for requests for proposals.
Construction of the park's first phase is scheduled for completion Aug. 3, 2000.
It will be interesting to see what kind of fan base develops when the Hawaii women's soccer team plays its 2000 home matches at Waipio.
Despite playing home matches on campus this past season (with a 4 p.m. starting time, when most people are not finished work), the Wahine finished third in the Western Athletic Conference for average home attendance.
Hawaii averaged 274 fans for nine home matches. Fresno State led the conference with 808 fans per match.
Southern Methodist (441) was next, followed by UH, Tulsa (244), Texas-El Paso (242), Texas Christian (232) and San Jose State (205).
The recent NCAA women's soccer Final Four in San Jose State's Spartan Stadium broke attendance records both nights, drawing 14,006 for the semifinals and 14,410 for the championship match, won by North Carolina, 2-0, over Notre Dame.
The previous record was 5,596 fans for a match between the Tar Heels and Portland.
