Just For Kicks

By Al Chase

Sunday, June 3, 2001

HSA bids for U.S.
Veterans Tournament

THE HAWAII Soccer Association has submitted a bid to the United States Soccer Federation to host the United States Veterans Tournament for two years.

The tournament would be held either the third or fourth week of June in 2003 and 2004.

The event has four divisions: men's and women's over 40 and over 50. Each division can accommodate 16 teams with competition scheduled for four days --Thursday through Sunday.

Teams play three matches in pool play, followed by the semifinals and final.

"All the matches are 90 minutes and there are two 10-minute sudden-victory overtimes in case of a tie," said Donna Fouts, HSA president.

Fouts is optimistic about Hawaii's chances and expects to receive the selection committee's answer toward the end of the summer.

The two-year bid designates Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex as the tournament site and Outrigger Hotels & Resorts as the host hotel.

College choices

Nicole Garbin, the Star-Bulletin Player of the Year, will play for the University of Oregon after considering Hawaii, the University of San Francisco and Washington State. She also will play basketball for the Ducks.

"I decided Oregon would have the best level of academics and the highest level of soccer, being it's the Pac-10," Garbin said.

Oregon head coach Bill Steffen said: "We're tremendously excited about her potential. We lose some players in the central midfield position and Nicole is an extremely capable player in that role."

Garbin was a four-time Player of the Year in the Maui Interscholastic League, leading Baldwin High School to the HHSAA state championship the past two seasons.

Teammate Alana Souza, a Star-Bulletin all-state, first-team member, is a midfielder whose forte was setting up goals for the Bears. She will continue her soccer career at California Lutheran in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Souza also visited Hawaii, Sonoma State, Portland and Pacific (Ore.) but decided school in California --where she has friends -- was her best choice.

Two members of the Iolani Raiders also will take their soccer talents to the West Coast.

Chelsea Akimoto, an attacking center midfielder, will attend the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, Calif.

Joni Kaitoku, a striker from Iolani and second-team Interscholastic League of Honolulu all-star, will play for Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. She should feel right at home, because the Boxers have six returning players from Hawaii.