Just For Kicks
Tournament should bring
mainland teamsTIM Busch, national chairman of the USSF/FIFA Veterans Cup, and vice chairman Paul Archer were here recently conferring with local officials, led by tournament chairman Frank Doyle and Hawaii Soccer Association president Donna Fouts.
The Veterans Cup has a two-year Hawaii run, with the first tournament Aug. 6-10 next summer at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Complex.
"The complex is very impressive. I'm convinced that Frank and Donna have a strong understanding of what the tournament is about because they went to West Virginia the past two years," Busch said. "I'm pretty convinced it will be a first-class event."
The HSA Web site (www.soccerhawaii.com) has a Veterans Cup page with a wealth of very useful information for mainland teams entering or thinking about entering the event.
"Soccer is still a word-of-mouth activity in some areas," Busch said. "That Web page really helps us get the word out. We've also placed ads in Soccer America. I think there will be a lot of positive residual effects for Hawaii for hosting the tournament for two years.
"Virtually everyone who comes will be in for at least eight days. It's a destination vacation and tournament. There has been more interest in Hawaii than any other site for the five years. I expect between 80 and 100 teams here. It's going to be a celebration."
College honors
Kalaheo grad Mike McCarthy is the first-team goalkeeper on the 2002 West Coast Conference men's soccer team. The Gonzaga senior led the WCC in saves per match (6.07), had two conference shutouts and a 1.43 goals-allowed average.McCarthy is second on GU's all-time list for shutouts with 13. Josh Fouts, also a Kalaheo alum and Hawaii goalkeeper coach, tops the list with 19.
Adam Sthay, a junior goalkeeper at Loyola Marymount, is an honorable mention selection. The Punahou graduate has allowed nine goals in 14 matches for a 0.64 GAA.
The WCC women's all-conference picks cite Shari Nishikawa (Iolani), a junior midfielder/defender from Loyola Marymount, on the second team and honorable mention pick Chelsea Montero (Kamehameha), a junior defender for St. Mary's.
Shaye Anderson (Parker), a Western Washington senior, is the All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference first-team goalkeeper. Moani Mundo, a junior from Castle playing for Western Oregon, is the second-team 'keeper. Anderson and Mundo reversed their selections from the 2001 season.
Anderson topped the GNAC with a 0.95 GGA and four shutouts. Mundo posted three shutouts and a 1.26 GAA.
Anderson's teammate, Chela Gray (Iolani), is a second-team selection and is co-Freshman of the Year. Also on the second team is Gabby Ahmadia, a senior striker for Humboldt State and Waiakea graduate.
Gray scored 10 goals and had three assists for 23 points, seventh best on the league. She also led the GNAC with five match-winning goals. Ahmadia contributed eight goals and two assists to the HSU offense and tied for 10th with 18 points.
Erin Ota, a sophomore from Maryknoll playing midfield for Western Oregon, is a GNAC all-conference academic pick. Ota has a 3.66 grade-point average while majoring in business.
Just for Kicks runs every other Sunday in the Star-Bulletin.Al Chase can be reached at achase@starbulletin.com