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Just For Kicks

By Al Chase

Thursday, October 19, 2000

Barbosa keys stingy
defense for Williams

TRISHA Barbosa benefited as a sophomore from having veterans playing alongside her in the Williams College defense during the 1999 season.

This year her role changed. The junior outside back is now the leader of the defense.

"Last year Trisha was key in a defense that only allowed seven goals in 18 games," said Williams head women's soccer coach Lisa Melendy.

The Ephs finished with a 15-2-1 record and advanced to the NCAA Division III final four, losing in a semifinal match to Macalaster (Minn.) College, 1-0.

"This season Trisha helps to anchor a young defense in which she is the only returning player from 1999 due to graduation and injury," said Melendy, who has compiled a 178-49-21 record in 16 years at the Western Massachusetts school.

The Ephs are 9-3-0 in 2000 with six shutouts. They have outscored their foes, 41-8.

Barbosa, a two-year starter, assisted on one of those goals.

Last season, Melendy was named New England Small College Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

A Punahou grad, she played on the first girls' team in 1975 coached by Bob Clague.

Melendy said Barbosa is the first Punahou player she has had on her team.

Barbosa is the daughter of Jorge Barbosa, present Punahou varsity girls' coach. She has a younger brother, James, who made the Dartmouth College varsity men's team this fall.

Shaye Anderson, a sophomore goalkeeper from Parker High School, posted a shutout as Western Washington upset No. 5-ranked (NAIA) Seattle University, 1-0, last Saturday.

She has posted two solo shutouts and a shared one this season for the Vikings, who lead the Pacific West Conference with a 5-1-1 record.

Raji Ananda (Seabury Hall), has started 11 of the 14 matches and recorded one goal and one assist for the 7-7-2 University of San Francisco Dons.

The 5-foot-11 junior defender made excellent progress during spring ball after appearing in just six matches in 1999.

Senior striker Brian Ching (Kamehameha) had a head and foot involved in two late goals that rallied Gonzaga past St. Mary's, 2-1, Sunday.

Ching's head shot tied the scored at 86:08. Then, with defenders all around him, Ching slid a pass from right to left across the box to Abbas Faridnia, who hit an open net with seven seconds left in regulation for the match winner.

Despite missing four matches with a pulled hamstring, Ching has six goals for the 7-4-0 Zags.

Cherish Kaaa (University) is the second leading scorer for the Linfield College women's team. The senior striker/midfielder has three goals and an assist for the 5-5-3 Wildcats.

Teammate Marie Snavely (Maui H.S.), a junior midfielder, suffered an ankle injury and is out indefinitely.

Shanon Hopkins (Hilo H.S.) continues to pump balls into the net. The junior striker has 10 goals, including two game-winners, and two assists for the 13-0-1 Linfield men's team.

Karalee Narimatsu, a freshman midfielder at Cal State Sacramento, will redshirt this year. The Mililani graduate injured a knee in training before the start of the season.

Three Hawaii players for the Nevada Wolfpack also have suffered season-ending injuries.

Morgan Kaya, a freshman striker from Punahou, had ACL surgery on her right knee three weeks ago; Marcie Okumura, a freshman defender from Iolani, had ACL surgery Oct. 5, also on her right knee, and sophomore defender Shanelle Piano (Mililani High School), was injured in Sunday's loss to UTEP and may require surgery.