Kai named to All-WAC
first team

Rice goalkeeper Lauren Shockley
earns biggest award

Regular-season winner Southern Methodist and runner-up Rice dominated the Western Athletic Conference women's soccer awards at the postseason tournament luau on the Hawaii campus last night.

WAC Soccer Tournament Where: Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium First round: Today: Texas-El Paso vs. Fresno State, 5 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Tulsa, 7:30 p.m. TV: Today's UH-Tulsa match live on KFVE (Ch. 5). Radio: None. Admission: Single-session, $3-$8. All sessions, $8-$20. Parking: Free.

Hawaii placed two players, junior striker Natasha Kai and senior outside left midfielder Joelle Sugai, on the All-WAC first team.

"I'm excited, but every award I get is for the team. Everything starts at the back and I'm just there to finish it up," said Kai.

Sugai, a second-team selection in 2003, said, "It's a nice surprise. That's it."

Senior striker Robyn deHay and senior left back Krystalynn Ontai were named to the second team

Southern Methodist midfielders Adria Campbell and Susanne Collins, defender Kimber Bailey and striker Olivia O'Rear were on the first team, while striker Jill Heinemann was a second-team pick.

Campbell, a sophomore and a Punahou graduate, said, "I was startled. It was unexpected. I just came here to play in the tournament."

Bailey was named WAC Freshman of the Year. She played a major role in the Mustangs defense and tied for the conference lead in goals scored with seven.

Rice goalkeeper Lauren Shockley was honored as the WAC Player of the Year. The senior posted shutouts in six of the Owls' eight league matches. She is the first goalkeeper to win the award.

She is joined on the first team by two teammates, defenders Caitlin Currie and Erin Droeger. The Owls placed three players, strikers Clory Martin and Sarah Yoder and midfielder Vanessa Serrano, on the second team.

Rounding out the first team are Fresno State striker Cortney Sobrero and Tulsa midfielder Carrie Schnarre.

Rice coach Chris Huston was named WAC Coach of the Year. She also won the honor in 2001, the Owls' first season with women's soccer.

This is Kai's third consecutive year on the first team. That equals the mark set by SMU's Heinemann, who also was named to the first team her first three seasons before being a second-team pick this year.

DeHay was a first-team member a year ago, and this is the first time Ontai has been honored.

The picks were made by a vote of the conference coaches.