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Just For Kicks Al Chase |
Kauai’s Alfiler getting
back into coachingAndrea Alfiler, who just concluded her second season in the Women's United Soccer Association with the San Diego Spirit, is the new assistant soccer coach for the Point Loma Nazarene women's team.
"It was a last-minute thing, but the door opened and I'm really excited to start coaching at this level," said Alfiler, a Kapaa resident who was a three-time, first-team All-American midfielder at Azusa Pacific.
"I've coached youth teams, but now I'm going to get my feet wet at a level where I want to be career wise."
One player Alfiler will work with is Elizabeth Kalama, a freshman midfielder from Kamehameha Schools.
"Liz is a top player. I like the way she plays and we may move her to the back line," said Alfiler, who left the door open for a professional career.
"I'm not sure what is going to happen, whether it is here or overseas. It depends on how this (college) season goes and whether I want to dedicate my time to just coaching."
Alfiler, a defender, saw action in two matches for the Spirit. Despite the limited playing time, she enjoyed the experience of living in Southern California again. She did get to surf a lot, an activity she missed while playing for the Philadelphia Charge a year ago.
College news
Patrick Boltz signed a national letter of intent in June to play for the Montana State-Billings Yellowjackets.Boltz, a 1998 Punahou graduate, played two years for Seattle Pacific, then kept active in adult amateur leagues.
"Patrick is a player who is a great organizer and communicator in the back," said MSUB coach Doug Seigle. "He'll definitely give our defense a solid presence and help us play the physical style that we like."
Kari Otani, a freshman midfielder/striker from Maui High School, earned a spot on the Portland State Vikings roster after two impressive days of practice as a walk-on.
During the 2002 season, Hawaii was represented by 72 women and 66 men on mainland college teams.
There were 26 women at NCAA Division I schools, 15 at the Division II level, 21 playing Division III ball and 10 at NAIA schools. The men's breakdown was 15 at Division I, eight at Division II, 23 at Division III and 20 with NAIA teams.
Oops
Unknown to me, a day after my Aug. 17 column, Crissy Schluep, liaison for the NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer Rules Committee, issued a memo to all NCAA head soccer coaches, NCAA Conference Offices and National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association Members that the zero-tolerance foul language rule would not be in effect for the 2003 season.For 2003, the rules relating to foul language are the same as in the 2002 NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer Rules Book, 12-14-d and 12-15-g:
"A player shall be cautioned by the referee if the player is guilty of any incidental vulgar or profane language.
"The referee shall eject from the game a player who cannot be replaced, a coach or any team representative if that individual uses offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures."
See the Columnists section for some past articles. Just for Kicks runs every other Sunday in the Star-Bulletin.
Al Chase can be reached at achase@starbulletin.com
