FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Aiea alumna Joelle Sugai has started 75 straight matches for the Rainbow Wahine, a school record.

UH’s Sugai makes mark
with hustle, consistency

Joelle Sugai just keeps going and going and going.

Whether it's harassing an opposing striker in front of her own goal or bending a ball across the goal mouth at the other end after a nifty run into the left corner, Sugai never stops hustling.

NEVADA AT HAWAII When: Today, 7 p.m. Where: Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium TV: Live, KFVE, Ch. 5 Radio: None Admission/Parking: Free. Series record: UH leads 4-0-0. Last meeting: UH won 4-1 in Reno last year. Notes: Natasha Kai has taken 91 shots this season and is on pace to break the single-season record (105) she set as a freshman. ... Nevada sophomore midfielder Lauren Kinneman needs four assists to break the school career record of seven set from 2000 to 2003 by Leisha Makinano (Iolani).

She has started a team-record 75 consecutive matches, every one Hawaii has played since she joined the Rainbow Wahine as a freshman in 2001.

The 2000 season ended the college career of Megan Lytle, a four-year starter at outside left midfield who holds the team record for consecutive matches played (78). UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing needed to fill that position and recruited Sugai to take over for Lytle.

Sugai was inundated during her junior year at Aiea High School with a "whole bunch of letters" from college coaches asking her to fill out and return a profile sheet.

The UH coaches were the only ones to follow up with a scholarship offer. That was perfect for Sugai, who never had another thought about attending any other university.

"I knew the position was open and my goal was to try and get playing time, to win that starting position," said Sugai of her first fall practice in 2001 with the Rainbow Wahine.

It is a big plus that the 5-foot-1 dynamo is naturally left-footed, but there were other attributes that caught Tenzing's attention during the numerous Na Alii matches he watched.

"I liked the energy Joelle brought to the game. It never wavered. She has been one of the most consistent performers in the history of our program," said Tenzing.

Sugai was surprised and honored to start the first match her freshman year. She was nervous. However, it did not take her long to display and maintain a level of soccer that left no question who was starting at left outside midfield.

"I was really scared. In my mind, I'm thinking, 'Am I going to be able to handle college soccer?'," said Sugai. "After I got through that first game, I told myself, 'It's not as bad as I thought. I can do this'. I think I did OK. I don't remember too much about that game.

"There are some games where I'm so tired, but I've just got to do it for the team. I'm ready every game."

A striker her first two years and a center midfielder as a high school junior and senior, Sugai does not mind making the passes that the UH strikers turn into goals. She has 18 assists, second on the Wahine career list. She also has scored twice, with her first collegiate goal being the game-winner against Fresno State her freshman year.

Sugai, a business marketing major, has been a UH scholar-athlete every year. She graduates next fall. Sugai is not sure what she will do with her degree, but does have one goal in mind.

"I plan to get my shiatsu license. I will go to school for four or five months, apprentice under dad (Steve) for about a year, then go for my state license," said Sugai.

"Playing college soccer was one of my main goals I wanted to accomplish. It has been an amazing experience. I'm glad I did it and got through it."

Sugai says she will continue playing club soccer for Leahi and in the coed league.