[ UH SOCCER ]
The well-known college spring vacation hot spots of Daytona Beach, Fla., and Cancun, Mexico, had no appeal for Jessica Uecker after her freshman season with the South Carolina Gamecocks. Hawaii biggest allure
for Uecker
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comInstead, Uecker, her brother Josh and some friends, spent a week on the Big Island. The Hawaii women's soccer team became the beneficiary of Uecker's quick trip to the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
In her first 10 matches as a Wahine, the sophomore defender has landed Western Athletic Conference defender of the week honors once and has been named to two all-tournament teams while filling an opening on the back line.
Uecker's decision to transfer to UH caught the coaching staff by surprise.
"We have a lot of transfer requests and the first thing we have to clear up is why a player wants to transfer," UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing said.
Usually a player is unhappy with the coach or playing time, but this was not the case with Uecker, who hails from Rapid City, S.D.
"I fell in love with Hawaii. After I returned, I talked to my parents about it, weighed my options and decided to give Hawaii a call," Uecker said. "I had a great experience at South Carolina, but I always wanted to go to the West Coast."
Fortunately for the Wahine, she didn't stop there.
Uecker started all 18 matches for the Gamecocks, was named the team's most outstanding freshman and was nominated for Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year. This was not the kind of player first-year coach Shelley Smith wanted to lose.
"Coming from South Dakota I didn't get too many coaches looking at me. I got lucky at South Carolina," Uecker said. "Coach Smith was awesome, very understanding and it was no problem getting my release.
"I really like the outdoors, mountain biking, going to the beach. It's always risky transferring because you are starting from ground zero again, but I was welcomed here and all my academic credits transferred."
One of the few spots Tenzing needed to fill this year was in the back line, and when Liz Lusk was sidelined for the season, it was a blessing to have Uecker available.
"I think she is playing extremely well. Jessica doesn't have great speed, but she makes up for it by her reading of the game," Tenzing said. "Her timing of the tackle is just right. She is strong in the air and has size, attributes we all cherish."
Uecker enjoys the responsibility of being the center defender in the UH system, although it is a change from the four-player, flat-back system employed by South Carolina.
"You definitely have to understand the game well to cope with fast strikers. You have to know your position and stay organized," Uecker said. "All three coaches at South Carolina were defenders, so they stressed defense. Here, the system is more offensive."
She says being away from home last year was rough, but the adjustment to living in Hawaii has been smooth.
Uecker has extra incentive this weekend as her mother, Mary, and Josh, now a student at Hawaii-Hilo, are in town.
"I don't think there is any extra pressure, but it does make me want to play better," she said.
When: Today, 5 p.m. Hawaii vs. Rice
Where: Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium
TV/radio: None.
Admission/parking: Free.
Series record: Tied at one victory apiece.
Last meeting: Rice won the first meeting 3-2 in overtime last year while the Wahine won 2-0 in the WAC tournament Nov. 8 on goals by Liz Lusk .
Notes: Carmen Calpo's assist on Natasha Kai's third goal Friday was her sixth of the season, a UH record for freshmen. ... This is the Owls first soccer trip to the islands. They ended a 10-match winless streak last Sunday with a 3-1 victory over San Jose State.
