[ UH SOCCER ]
Today is senior day for Jennifer Churchill, Erin Quattromani, Wanette Miyashiro and Noelle Takemoto, who play their final home match for the Hawaii soccer team. Seniors to play
last home match
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comMiyashiro and Takemoto are four-year veterans of the program. Miyashiro needs to play in the final three regular-season matches to give her 80, a UH career record.
Both indicated playing in the Western Athletic Conference championship match last year was a career highlight, but they hope to revise that this year by being on the team that wins the conference title.
Takemoto hasn't thought too much about her final home match.
"I don't want to be up too much. I just want to play the game and be happy if we win," she said.
Said Miyashiro: "It hasn't hit me yet. I'm sure it will in the end and I think it will be a nice way to say bye to everyone. I'm a very emotional person, so we'll see what happens."
Wahine coach Pinsoom Tenzing said this a "really, really a special senior group."
"Erin stepped down straight from heaven to grace our program," Tenzing said. "She's not only a good soccer player, it's a privilege to have her with us.
"Wanette is the ultimate student-athlete. She's been captain since her sophomore year and has worked so hard.
"Noelle is doing a great job. Her pace at the back is one of the things that gets us out of sticky situations.
"Jennifer is a wonderful kid. She helped us big time last year and has been very, very supportive of Mahie Atay being a freshman. Jennifer has given us no attitude and (we) feel privileged to have her on the team."
Takemoto came to UH as a walk-on after making a last-minute switch in her college choice.
"I was going to Loyola Marymount, had committed to the coach, but at the last second I chickened out and wanted to stay home," she said.
The Punahou graduate had to learn patience. She played in just nine matches her first two seasons, saw more consistent action last year (18 matches) and moved into a starting role at right back this year after playing primarily on the left side in previous seasons.
"The first two years I was trying to have fun with it. I didn't want it to be a bad situation, and it paid off," said Takemoto, who is majoring in Hawaiian studies and minoring in history.
"It definitely was a learning experience. There have been good times and bad times, but every year has been different. I wanted to grow not only as a player, but as a person. To be the starting right back is a reward. I'm just happy to be playing."
A three-time UH scholar-athlete, two-time academic all-WAC and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America scholar-athlete last year, Takemoto will graduate next year or in the spring of 2004 and plans to go to graduate school.
Quattromani played two-and-a-half years for Stanford before breaking her left foot midway through her junior season. She didn't play her senior season last year, not wanting to rush rehab. She also was busy applying to medical school and planning a December wedding to Jimmy, her husband now in the Navy stationed at Pearl Harbor.
With a bachelor's degree in biological sciences, a year of eligibility remaining and her husband coming to Hawaii, it was an easy decision for the midfielder to play one more season of collegiate soccer.
"It has been a lot of fun and a great experience playing here," said Quattromani, who, fully recovered, worked out with the Stanford varsity this past spring.
Her ball-handling skills and pin-point passing have been a welcomed addition to the Wahine attack.
One thing she did not do at Stanford was experience senior day. She makes up for that after tonight's match.
Jennifer Churchill transferred to UH from De Anza Community College, and she started 16 of the 18 matches she played for the Wahine. She was credited with 10 wins, a school single-season record for goalkeepers, and posted a solid 1.70 goals against average.
This year she lost the battle to retain the starting job.
"Obviously I would have liked to play more, but Mahie (Atay) is an awesome goalkeeper," said Churchill, who will graduate with a degree in exercise science in the spring of 2003. "I still have a lot of fun out there. If they need me I'm ready.
"Hawaii is a great place. I call it home for now. I want to keep playing soccer. It's too much not to."
Miyashiro has been honored as a scholar-athlete nine different times. She is majoring in physical education and will graduate next fall.
"I'll be looking for any opening, even if it's part-time, because PE openings are slim," said Miyashiro, who would prefer to teach at the elementary level.
The midfielder from Aiea knows what she'll remember about her Wahine experience.
"I think it will be the team spirit, the team bonding, especially on road trips, where you are with everyone 24/7. That's what will stick in my mind," Miyashiro said.
Notes: The Wahine are 3-1 in televised matches this year. ... Natasha Kai's hat trick Friday was her second of the season, and she's the first Wahine to accomplish that feat. ... Nevada has three Hawaii players on its roster: juniors Leisha Makinano (Iolani) and Kaula Rowe (Kamehameha), and freshman Amy Malinowski (St. Joseph).
When: Today, 5 p.m. Hawaii vs. Nevada
Where: Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium
TV: Live on KFVE (Channel 5)
Radio: None
Admission/parking: Free
Series record: Hawaii leads 2-0.
Last meeting: The Rainbow Wahine won 4-1 at Reno, Oct. 28, 2001.
