Thursday, August 30, 2001
[ WAHINE SOCCER ]
Tenzing’s team With the exception of goalkeeper, Hawaii soccer coach Pinsoom Tenzing could field a veteran starting lineup when the Wahine open their season against Sacramento State tomorrow.
tall on talent
Coach says the Wahine
will be in good shape when
they all get in shapeBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comWhether he does or doesn't depends on several factors. Individual conditioning is one. Team chemistry is another. How much of an impact the best recruiting class in school history has made to this point is a third.
The first month of the season is devoted to developing a team that can seriously contend for the Western Athletic Conference title. Tenzing has 11 matches to do that. He will have to define each player's role and meld those roles into a cohesive unit that understands and executes his system.
"This is a talented team, more so than last year, not to say that last year's wasn't talented. We have more speed, but I'm still concerned about conditioning," Tenzing said.
For the first quarter of an intrasquad scrimmage last Saturday, Tenzing put the best conditioned players on one team and equally talented but less conditioned players on the other side and it was not a contest as far as ball and field control.
"That was the most telling quarter of them all. It was a revelation to all of them. I will take them screaming into October in condition," Tenzing said.
When: Tomorrow, 7 p.m. Hawaii vs. Sacramento St.
Where: Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium
TV: None.
Admission: Free.
Series record: Hawaii leads 4-2.
Last meeting: The Hornets prevailed 1-0 over the visiting Wahine, Oct. 1, 1999.
As for the team chemistry, the eight-year head coach has a good feeling.
"The players get along well this year. It's the caring of the older players for the younger ones and it's the expectations of the young players for the older ones and coaches. When all that meshes, you have good chemistry," said Tenzing.
Junior college transfers Jennifer Churchill and Nichole Yoshimura and freshman Erin Chow will vie for the goalkeeper's job. Each will get playing time early in the season to stake their claim to the spot between the pipes. Tenzing may redshirt one, a decision that has to be made before the fifth match.
The defense will have veterans Carmel Hurley, Erin Schremser and Liz Lusk, although Lusk is not 100 percent after ACL surgery last spring. Another returnee is Noelle Takemoto and Tenzing says some of the newcomers are ready to step in.
Kalena Eaton, Tiffany Makue and Wanette Miyashiro are experienced midfielders. Recruits Natalie Groenewoud and Joelle Sugai or redshirt Wendi Young could fit in the middle or play up top.
"They are all versatile players and September will decide the roles for everyone," Tenzing said.
"I'm a die-hard believer in the integrity of every position and strongly believe that everyone needs to learn their position. This process has already started even though we're still experimenting. The nuances of a position aren't learned in one or two sessions. It takes time and observations on my part."
The top three goal scorers from a year ago, Arlene Devitt, Veronica Flores and Jennifer Starsiak, are back. The problem last year was Flores played five matches as an emergency goalkeeper and Devitt miss games due to a suspension and too many yellow and red cards. Tenzing hopes that doesn't happen this season.
Pam Fong, who saw limited action last year, and newcomer Tasha Rowe will get the opportunity to contribute on the forward line.
"We have speed and talent and the willingness to use them. We weren't always willing last year and were a stagnant team at times," Tenzing said.
"The kids are laboring though the tactical aspects of the game, but we always do this. I see progress, but that job is never done, never complete, otherwise you would have a perfect team."
Sacramento State returns 10 starters from last year's team that set a school record for wins with nine. The Hornets are picked to finish third in the Big Sky Conference.
This is the first of three Wahine tournaments sponsored by Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. Cornell was supposed to be in this tournament, but could not travel until next month. The Wahine will play the alumnae at 5 p.m. Sunday to complete the weekend.
NCAA expands tournament:
The NCAA expanded the Division I soccer championships to 64 women's teams at Indianapolis yesterday.The women's bracket was increased from 32 to 48 teams in 1998.
In the women's championship, 28 conferences will be awarded automatic berths, with 36 teams receiving at-large selections.
The tournament will have four teams at each of 16 campus sites for the first round Nov. 16. The second round will be Nov. 18, the third round Nov. 23-25, and the quarterfinals Nov. 30-Dec. 2. The 2001 Women's College Cup will be Dec. 7 and 9 at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii