Just For Kicks
Shanon Hopkins overcame doubts after to a serious injury his junior year to lead the Linfield Wildcats in scoring with 11 goals as a senior. Hilo’s Hopkins turned
Linfield into a winnerA collision with a goalkeeper left the 5-foot-8, 145-pound Hilo High School graduate with ligament damage and a five-inch gash on his right shin. He had surgery and was out for six months.
"Shanon had to find out if the leg was going to be okay when the season started. It took a couple of games," said Linfield coach Ian Clerihew.
Hopkins concluded his Linfield career with a school record 15 game-winning goals. His 37 goals and 81 points rank him second in both categories on Linfield's all-time lists.
He teamed with fellow senior striker Chris McDonald to lift Linfield from Northwest Conference doormat to a 55-25-2 record the past four seasons.
"He has one of the quickest first steps I've ever seen. That allows Shanon to eliminate the first defender very quickly, take on the second defender and finish," said Clerihew.
"He often faced players who were taller and more solid, but he worked very hard off the ball and was much better running at players than with his back to the goal. Shanon is a creative player because he's a creative person. He's very much a thinker."
An international business major, Hopkins was a three-time NWC first-team selection and the league's player of the year this season.
Another Wildcat from Hawaii, freshman midfielder Colby Ayonon (Kapaa H.S.) saw action in nine matches and was credited with one assist.
"Colby is a very good technical player with a tremendous shot. I think it will take him a little bit to adjust to the college level. I'm excited for Colby," said Clerihew.
Marie Snavely, a senior midfielder from Maui H.S., battled injuries for the second consecutive season, but scored a goal in her final match for Linfield, a 4-1 triumph over Pacific Lutheran.
Good job
Kathy (Smithe) Pottast, daughter of the late Oahu Interscholastic Association Executive Secretary Bill Smithe, is in her 11th season as coach of the Monroe (Wash.) High School varsity girls team.
Her overall record is 124-50-21 and her teams have qualified for the state tournament five times.
Pottast has been coach of the year three times. She has guided her girls to two league and two district titles. Monroe competes at the 4A level.
Record breaker
Junior goalkeeper Ryan Stanley (Kaiser) broke his own record for saves in a single season with 122 this year for the 6-9-2 Pacific University (Ore.) Boxers. Stanley posted a 1.16 goal allowed average with three shutouts while playing all 1,636 minutes between the pipes. Unfortunately, the Boxers only scored 16 goals in 17 matches.
He had set the saves record in 1998 as a freshman with 114.
Freshman Charles Rania (Punahou) scored his first collegiate goal in Gonzaga's 2-0 win over the University of San Francisco, Nov. 11.
Mike McCarthy, a junior goalkeeper from Kalaheo High School, posted his fifth shutout of the season in the match.