Just For Kicks
Suzuki earns double honors
as defenderSHELLY Suzuki earned second team, National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas Division III Far West Region All-America honors following her junior year with the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas.
A defender from Punahou, Suzuki also was named to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first team. She was a second team pick a year ago.
"Shelly had a great season for us. She played left back and it can be very hard to get recognition as a defender but she excelled in the position and scored the goal that assured us at least a tie for the conference title," said Athenas coach Jennifer Clark-Morgan.
"She was a calm and composed leader on the field and off. She has gone from being a junior captain this year to one of our tri-captains next year.
"Shelly and Mele Sato (also from Punahou) won our Athena Award. It is voted on by the team for the players who are most devoted to the team, stay positive even in the face of adversity, etc. Mele was our backup goalkeeper who didn't see a minute of time but was such a huge part of our team."
Two Hawaii players were cited on NSCAA/adidas Junior College All-America teams.
Gerard Aterado, a Pearl City grad and a freshman sweeper for Santa Rosa JC, is a Division III, second-team member.
The Bear Cubs (16-2-2 league, 21-1-3 overall) won the Bay Valley Conference title and the California state championship.
Alicia Young, who also plays for Santa Rosa, is a third-team All American. The sophomore striker from Maui High School, scored the only goal on a penalty kick against Sierra College as the Bear Cubs (16-2-2) clinched first place in the Bay Valley Conference.
Mike Hickman, a freshman goalkeeper from Hawaii Prep, and Rodney Rivera, a freshman defender from Waiakea, also played for Santa Rosa.
The Northwest Conference named four Hawaii players to its all-conference teams. Ryan Stanley (Kaiser, Pacific U. Boxers) is the first-team goalkeeper. Kurt Kagawa (Mililani), a junior striker for Whitworth, is an honorable mention pick.
Pacific strikers Moani Lau, a junior from Kamehameha, and Joni Kaitoku, a sophomore from Iolani, received honorable mention status.
Jolie Nitta, a Mililani grad on scholarship at Azusa Pacific this fall, finished third in scoring for the NAIA national runner-up Cougars. The freshman midfielder, who started all 20 matches, tallied six goals and had three assists for 15 points. APU finished 16-4 after losing the NAIA championship match to Westmont, 2-1.
"I wasn't sure how much of an impact Jolie would have, but she had a great season, started every game. She was a key figure in the midfield," said APU coach Jason Surrell.
Julie Broussard, also a Mililani graduate, came off the bench to play in 11 matches for APU and scored twice.
Time to give
I was talking with the friendly people at the Blood Bank last week while donating pint No. 103. They said this is a tough time of the year. Donors are too busy to come in, yet the need does not decrease. If you are qualified, make the time to give back to the community. It's a satisfying kick.
Just for Kicks runs every other Sunday in the Star-Bulletin.Al Chase can be reached at achase@starbulletin.com