Just For Kicks
Honolulu Bulls in
prestigious youth tourneyThe Honolulu Bull Soccer Club Under 14 Boys team is participating in the Dallas Youth Cup Tournament starting with pool play tomorrow.
"This is the No. 1 youth tournament. It attracts top level teams from around the world. You almost have to be invited to participate," Bulls director of coaching Phil Neddo said.
"We applied, but it's so restricted I was surprised we were accepted. I'm sure it's because we did well at the Snickers Regional last summer."
The Bulls play Colegio Frances Hidalgo (Mexico) tomorrow, the Oakville Winstars (Canada) Tuesday and FC Delco Crunch (Downington, Pa.) Wednesday in pool play.
The eight pool winners advance to the quarterfinal round.
Team members are Gavin Wong, Devin Wong, Scott Perske, John Chow, Alvaro Andres, Matt Bush, Richard Lau, Lee Anderson, Morgan Langley, Dylan Langley, Justin Katto, Jeremy Wittig, Stephen Fung, Brent Umehira, Jason Shon, Peter Sguigna, Ken Ogata and Daniel Phelps.
"For a Hawaii team to be playing in this tournament is a signal that Hawaiian soccer has arrived on the national scene," said Billy Christensen who has lived in Dallas the past eight years. The Punahou graduate is an assistant coach for a Dallas area team in the tournament.
No American team has won the under-14 division in the last seven years.
The winners have been AC Sparta Prague, Czech Republic (1995); Tahuichi, Bolivia (1996); CF Monterrey, Mexico (1997, 1998); Santos FC, Brazil (1999); Tigres, Mexico (2000), and Atlas FC, Mexico (2001).
Competition is held in six divisions Under 12, 14, 16, 17, 19 and Super Group U-19.
Well-known clubs that have won division titles include Manchester United and West Ham United (England), Sao Paulo and SC Corinthians (Brazil), Moscow Dynamo (Russia), Real Madrid (Spain) and CD Guadalajara (Mexico).
Final fall wrap
Adam Sthay, playing behind senior goalkeeper Dan Sheridan, posted a 2.67 goals allowed average in four matches for Loyola Marymount. The Punahou graduate started two matches for the 8-5-2 Lions.Two Seabury Hall graduates saw considerable action for the 7-10-1 San Francisco Dons. Raji Ananda, a senior defender, started 15 of 16 matches and was credited with two assists. Stacy Kodani, a redshirt freshman defender, got the starting call in 13 of 17 matches.
Jodie Tanga (Iolani) scored twice and had an assist for the USF women. She had a team-best .700 (7-for-10) shots on goal shooting percentage while starting 14 of 18 matches.
Amber Waddle scored three goals and assisted on two others, all in Golden State Athletic Conference matches for the Vanguard University Lions who were 7-3 in league, 9-7 overall. The sophomore striker graduated from Makua Lani Christian High School on the Big Island.
Regan O'Neill, a junior midfielder from Iolani, saw action in one match for the Yale varsity men's team.
Lantana Hoke, a Maui resident who entered Mary Baldwin College direct from intermediate school, made the soccer team as a 15-year old. She is a PEG (Program for the Exceptionally Gifted) student.