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The Western Athletic Conference will experience a net gain of one women's soccer team, bringing the conference total to nine next year. WAC to lose
one team, add a
pair in 2001Texas Christian leaves for Conference USA, but Boise State joins the WAC in 2001.
And Rice University recently announced that the Owls will field a women's team starting with the 2001 season.
Chris Huston, 29, who started the program at the University of Houston in 1997, will receive the same opportunity at Rice.
Huston's two-year record as the Cougars' head coach was 22-16-2. She led Houston to an 11-8 record and third-place finish in Conference-USA in its inaugural season.
Previously, she had coached highly successful programs at the Challenge Soccer Club in Houston and the Dallas-based D'Feeters Soccer Club.
Huston played for the University of North Carolina, helping the Tar Heels to NCAA championships in 1989 and '90.
Louisiana Tech, which also joins the WAC in 2001, does not field a women's soccer team.
The WAC no longer sponsors men's soccer.
Following the 1999 campaign, San Jose State and Fresno State moved to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
Southern Methodist, Texas Christian, Tulsa and Drury, a WAC associate member in 1999, went to the Missouri Valley Conference.
There is another Hawaii connection with the first-year University of Nevada Wolfpack women's soccer program.
Kari Morioka, co-head coach with George-Ann Derby of the Iolani girl's 1999 state championship team, is an assistant to head coach Dang Pibulvech.
"Kari is one of the most impressive young coaches in the west region. Her success and reputation makes her a valuable addition to our program," Pibulvech said. "I am excited to be able to provide a tremendous mentor for my student-athletes."
Morioka also was the head coach of Leahi Soccer Club and has been the club's Director of Coaching and Player Development.
A two-year letter winner at Harvard from 1988-1990, Morioka graduated with a degree in biological anthropology. She went on to earn a masters at Harvard's Graduate School of Education, focusing on human psychology and development.
Morioka and six players from Hawaii high schools return to the islands for two matches next month. The Wolfpack plays at Hawaii Pacific Oct. 6 and meets the Hawaii Wahine in a WAC match Oct. 8.
Sept. 17, 2000, marked the end of the "Hawaiian Streak" for the men's soccer team at Gonzaga University.
When the Bulldogs took the field against Michigan State in the Fila Tournament at Loyola Marymount that day, it was the first time since Nov. 5, 1995, that there wasn't a player from Hawaii in the starting lineup.
The streak lasted 77 matches.
Brian Ching (Kamehameha) was sidelined with a hamstring pull. Zach Scott (Maui) was out with a knee injury, Alika Cosner (Kamehameha) was on the bench with a back injury and Owen Omiya (Iolani) was still in Spokane, Wash., rehabilitating a knee injured last season.
Cosner did uphold the 50th state's honor by appearing in a reserve role.
(long-s)
Shannon Hopkins (Hilo) was named the Northwest Conference Player of the Week (Sept. 18-24) when he came off the bench to score three goals, one each in Linfield victories over Willamette, Pacific Lutheran and Puget Sound.
The Wildcats (8-0) are off to their best start in history and are ranked No. 6 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division III poll.
