GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii freshman Natasha Kai garnered conference honors after setting the WAC record for conference goals, with 10.
Kai named WAC Whenever she's on the field, it's hard not to notice Hawaii soccer player Natasha Kai.
Player of the Year
The Wahine freshman becomes the first
to also win newcomer award in same yearBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThe 5-foot-8 freshman striker runs past unsuspecting defenders to corral long balls and create havoc in the goal area. She exhibits no fear in jumping high while on the run or hurtling her body horizontally to put her head on a floating ball and slam it past a stunned goalkeeper for a score.
Kai is not intimidated by opponents' shoulder charges. After all, she played rugby with the men at Brigham Young-Hawaii last year before entering Hawaii.
The Western Athletic Conference coaches sure didn't miss the Kahuku graduate's exploits. They honored Kai as the WAC Player of the Year and named her conference Newcomer of the Year. That is the first time in league history one player has won both awards.
"I'm absolutely delighted for Natasha, her family and delighted for the team," said Hawaii coach Pinsoom Tenzing. "It's a remarkable achievement and I don't think you'll see anything like it for a long time.
"Natasha hasn't been playing on all cylinders because of the mononucleosis. She is not at the same level she was the first of the year, but it's a credit to her for what she has done."
Kai joins senior midfielder Erin Quattromani on the All-WAC first team.
Junior striker Arlene Devitt, senior defender Noelle Takemoto and freshman goalkeeper Mahie Atay were cited as second-team All-WAC selections.
Kai had a record-breaking season in her freshman year. She set a league mark for goals scored in league matches with 10, averaging 1.25 goals per match. Her 23 points in conference matches is a record. She scored four-game winning goals against WAC opponents, was named WAC Player of the Week three times and managed two hat tricks during the season.
"I was pretty shocked when they told me at the airport," said Kai. "The team really worked hard to get this far so I give all the credit to my teammates for these awards."
Quattromani, in her fifth year of eligibility after graduating from Stanford last spring, was the trigger on many of the Hawaii strikers' dangerous forays past opposing defenses. Often the result was a goal. Quattromani set a WAC record for assists in league matches with seven.
"I'm also delighted for Erin. She is not a high-profile player, but she does the quality things that have to be done," said Tenzing.
Quattromani exhibited uncanny ability to loft a ball with either foot into open space that UH's quick strikers could use advantageously in scoring situations.
"I was surprised and happy. I haven't played center half for quite a few years," said Quattromani. "It's a different dynamic from playing outside. Fortunately, it worked out and I'm more comfortable there now."
Atay and Takemoto are first-time selections, while Devitt was a first-team pick a year ago.
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