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Hawaii booters help
new coach

Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., has long been popular with students and student-athletes from Hawaii.

Last fall, 11 women and six men played soccer for the Boxers.

The senior women were co-captain Joni Kaitoku (Iolani), a midfielder; defenders Kari Hata (Maryknoll), Mariel Kim (Punahou), Kasey Chun (Maryknoll) and Jean Kasamoto (Mid-Pacific); and midfielder Kalai Titcomb (Kamehameha).

"That group were sophomores when I came in," said men's and women's coach Jim Brazeau. "They were a very integral part of the progress the women's team has made. They gave us stability and I thank them. From a new coach perspective, they tried hard no matter what the score was. That was the underlying theme of all players on both teams."

Kaitoku started all 18 matches, scored once and had one assist. Hata played in 14 matches and had one assist. Chun was in 12 matches. Titcomb scored three goals, assisted on two in 17 matches. Kasamoto put eight of her 17 shots on goal without scoring in 18 matches. Kim started one of the three matches she played.

Senior striker Bobby Shinn led the 7-11-0 Boxers in scoring with six goals, five assists and 17 points. He put 18 of his 34 shots on goal and had one game-winner. The Pearl City graduate was an All-Northwest Conference first-team selection.

"Bobby is very deserving and I am happy that our opposing coaches recognized his efforts," Brazeau said. "He has had a great career. He is a hard worker and we will miss him next year. The Shinn brothers (Ricky was a freshman last fall) are all great kids. I couldn't have asked more from them."

Co-captain Randy Shinn scored one goal with his 17 shots. He will finish his degree work this fall and serve as a student-assistant coach.

The third senior on the men's team was Aiea's Elliott Hirai. He scored once and had one assist in 17 starts.

He added the large number of students from Hawaii gives them a sense of community, that they know there will be support from the school.

"I think being able to play a sport they love in college and be in a community that embraces them is an attraction," said Brazeau.

April Due, the starting goalkeeper for the Kapolei Hurricanes the past three seasons, will continue her soccer career with the Graceland (Iowa) University Yellowjackets this fall.

She also considered Alcorn, Louisiana-Lafayette and St. Leo among others. Due maintains a 3.4 grade-point average, is a state judo champion and competes in the 100-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay.

In my March 20 column, I listed the accomplishments of Daniel Park, but had him playing for the wrong school. The Pearl City graduate and junior midfielder transferred to Willamette University in Salem, Ore., last August and played for coach Jeff Enquist. He attended Pacific U. his first two years.