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Just For Kicks
THE University of Nevada women's soccer team will have a decided "local" look when it plays a Western Athletic Conference match against the University of Hawaii Wahine here Oct. 8. Nevada gets soccer
boost from HawaiiWolf Pack head coach Dang Pibulvech has signed two more Hawaii players, Morgan Kaya and Marcie Okumura, for his team that begins its first intercollegiate season this fall.
Kaya, a 5-foot-2 striker from Punahou, made recruiting trips to the University of Oregon and Gonzaga, but enjoyed her visit to Reno the best.
"I really like coach Dang," Kaya said.
Okumura, a 5-2 right fullback from Iolani, also considered attending Cal State Sacramento, but Pibulvech also played a major role in her decision.
"I know him and worked with him before and several of my (club) teammates are going there," Okumura said.
Both girls play for the Leahi Soccer Club Under-19 team that will participate in the Snickers U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV tournament next month.
Leahi teammates, striker Kaula Rowe (Kamehameha) and sweeper/center midfielder Leisha Makinano (Iolani), signed earlier with Nevada.
Kurt Kagawa, a 5-6 outside midfielder from Mililani High School, debated between NCAA Division III schools, California Lutheran and Whitworth.
"The schools are pretty much the same in terms of a lot of things. The deciding factor was the academics were a little bit stronger and the coaching was more tailored to my style at Whitworth," said Kagawa.
He plans to major in criminal law.
April Heinrichs, United States Women's National Team head coach, has announced the 30-player Olympic residency camp roster from which the 18-player 2000 Olympic team will likely be chosen.
The roster features 15 players from the 1999 Women's World Cup championship team, including all 11 starters from the historic Women's World Cup final match. The player pool features four goalkeepers, eight defenders, 12 midfielders and six forwards.
Eight of the veterans have played in 135 or more international matches. Heinrichs also has mixed in a group of talented young players.
A full half of the residency roster has 11 caps or less.
The team will spend five weeks preparing for the Olympics at the San Diego Olympic Training Center .
The roster - goalkeepers: Briana Scurry, Jenni Branam, Siri Mullinix and Hope Solo; defenders: Joy Fawcett, Brandi Chastain, Michelle French, Nandi Pryce, Danielle Slaton,Carla Overbeck, Christie Pearce and Kate Sobrero; midfielders: Michelle Akers, Aleisha Cramer, Lorrie Fair, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly, Shannon MacMillan, Sara Randolph, Nikki Serlenga, Aly Wagner, Jena Kluegel, Sara Whalen and Veronica Zepeda, and forwards: Susan Bush, Mia Hamm, Tiffeny Milbrett, Cindy Parlow, Christie Welsh and Alyssa Ramsey.
Clint Mathis, an instructor at the soccer camp at Waialae Iki Field during Christmas vacation the past two years, has signed a multiyear contract with Major League Soccer.
The midfielder-turned-striker for the Los Angeles Galaxy is believed to have signed for three years with an option year.
Mathis may be headed to the New York-New Jersey MetroStars where he would be reunited with former Galaxy coach Octavio Zambrano.
The move is necessary if the Galaxy signs a transfer agreement with the Tigres club of Mexico for striker Luis Hernandez.
