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Just For Kicks
THE members of the United States women's soccer team have made it perfectly clear they are committed to the Women's United Soccer Association, the eight-team league that intends to start play next April. U.S. women committed
to pro leagueThe WUSA has submitted a business plan to the U.S. Soccer Federation, the national sanctioning body.
Major League Soccer also is expected to submit a proposal by May 1, the USSF deadline.
But the American players are adamant about their stand.
"There seems to be some speculation that we are without a choice in determining which league we will play in," they said.
"Frankly, this speculation concerns us and we are issuing this statement to clarify the situation."
The players further amplified their point by saying, "we are committed to a women's league that is vibrant, strong, independent and has the singular mission of developing women's pro soccer into all that it can be."
The WUSA also has letters of intent from top international stars such as Sissi of Brazil, Charmaine Hooper of Canada, Julie Murray of Australia and Patience Avre of Nigeria.
Star players would be spread among the eight teams, meaning at least a half-dozen would be on the field for each game.
It will be interesting to see which group the USSF decides to sanction.
Starr Johnson, a 1998 Punahou graduate, has been named co-captain of the University of Oregon women's soccer team.
She shares that duty with Chalise Baysa, who was raised on Kauai and now lives in Oak Harbor, Wash.
Johnson is a 5-foot-8 defender while Baysa is a 5-2 midfielder/striker. Both players will be juniors this fall.
They were elected by teammates after spring practice.
"They have had an impact on this team," Ducks head coach Bill Steffen said.
"I think both have a great perspective on things.
"They enjoy responsibility, love to practice and have fun, but have a strong desire to be successful. They impress this on everyone else."
Johnson, who maintains a grade-point average above 3.7, is co-chair of the Hawaii Club's May Day luau and also teaches hula at a local church.
Two members of the Mililani High School boys' soccer team will continue playing at the collegiate level this fall.
First-team, all-state 6-foot-3 goalkeeper Andrew Brown has signed a letter of intent to play for the Creighton University Blue Jays.
Kerry Miike, a first-team, all-state midfielder, will attend the University of Southern Colorado.
Miike will have four former Hawaii prep players as teammates at the Pueblo school and says that helped him make his decision. He expects to be used as a sweeper in college, the position he plays with the Bulls Soccer Club Under-19 team.
Brown also weighed an offer from Gonzaga before deciding to head to Omaha, Neb.
"The situation at Creighton was better for goalkeepers," Brown said. "There are three seniors graduating and one returning junior. It will help me competition wise.
"They have their own goalie coach who played professionally in Poland and is a former all-star college goalkeeper."
Both players will receive an athletic scholarship.
The latest FIFA world ratings of men's teams has Brazil No. 1 with 834 points.
The Czech Republic (767) is No. 2 followed by France (758), Spain (747) and Germany (735).
The United States men (637) are No. 20.
