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Just For Kicks Al Chase |
Sato leaves Harvard
healthy at lastAlisa Sato scored in her final match to tie the score and Harvard went on to beat Columbia 2-1 in double overtime.
"It was the last game of my career," said Sato, who finished an injury-free season for the Crimson. "I couldn't help but think back to my first season with the AYSO organization in Mililani when I was about 7 years old. Time sure does fly!"
Said Harvard coach Tim Wheaton: "Alisa has been an amazing addition to our team. One of our fastest and most technical players, she is a handful for opposing defenses. Despite being injured for the majority of her four years here, her contributions on and off of the field have been great. This year we have had the pleasure of seeing her overcome her injuries and play more to her potential -- resulting in some crucial goals."
Sato struggled at Harvard with old bilateral stress fractures in the inside of her shins. The more she ran on compact fields, the more painful it was the next day.
"Coach Tim and our athletic trainer were very understanding and helpful, so I would find a healthy balance between rest, practice and game time," said Sato, who graduates in June and plans to attend medical school.
"This year, being injury-free allowed me to focus more on the game and play well without thinking about shooting pains in the inside of my shins."
Said Wheaton: "Alisa has been a leader during her time here. Her attitude and love for the game are infectious, a great motivator for the team."
Sato was the second-leading scorer with five goals and five assists in 2003 for Harvard (6-5-5).
Nicole Garbin, a redshirt sophomore striker from Baldwin, concluded her season by scoring both of Oregon's (9-11) goals in the Ducks' 3-2 loss to No. 2 UCLA. Garbin finished with seven goals and seven assists to set a school single-season school record for points (21), one better the Kauai-born Chalise Baysa had in 2001.
Garbin, a second-team All-Pac-10 pick, tied the single-season school record with 70 shots. She is tied for third on the Ducks' career-goals list with 12.
Mele French, a sophomore striker from Mililani, had four goals and one assist for OU.
Chelsea Montero, a Kamehameha graduate and a senior defender for St. Mary's, is a first-team selection on the 2003 All-West Coast Conference women's team. Shari Nishikawa, an Iolani graduate and a senior midfielder for Loyola Marymount, was picked for the second team.
Jen Loo (Mililani) was named to the All-Big Sky tournament team. The freshman was runner-up in voting for Big Sky Newcomer of the Year.
Malie Tavepholjalern, a sophomore midfielder at Harvard, was cited on the Ivy League honorable mention team this year. Tavepholjalern, who played at Punahou from the seventh through the 10th grade, started all 16 games for the Crimson. Her best match was in a 6-0 win over Holy Cross when she scored twice and had an assist in the 6-0 victory.
Freshman midfielder Richard Higa has been named to the Atlantic-10 All-Rookie Team. The Mid-Pacific Institute graduate scored two goals for Massachusetts (11-7-1), second among Minutemen rookies.
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
