Hawaii adds 6
for soccer

Hawaii soccer coach Pinsoom Tenzing announced the signing of six high school players to national letters of intent. They will enroll at UH this fall.

Three of the players are from Hawaii, two from California and one from Colorado.

The signees will help the Rainbow Wahine replace 11 seniors who were involved in 45 wins and the first WAC regular-season championship.

The Hawaii players are Elizabeth Brauher, a midfielder from Waiakea; Taryn Fukuroku, a striker from Maui High School; and Tehane Higa, a defender from Aiea.

Californians signing are Kori Lu, a goalkeeper from Santa Margarita High School in San Clemente, and Aimee Cohen, a striker from Rancho Cotate High School in Penngrove.

Liza Amaya, a midfielder from Cherry Creek (Centennial, Colo.) High School, is the daughter of Rafael Amaya, who played professionally in Colombia's first division and with two Major League Soccer teams.

"All our recruits are extremely competent soccer players," said Tenzing. "We watched them extensively and we can't help but think they all will be solid contributors. There are certainly starters in the bunch and they will amply fill the void of our departing seniors."

Brauher was a first-team All-State Star-Bulletin selection this year and a three-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation pick.

Cohen led Rancho Cotate in scoring three consecutive years, hitting the net 25 times as a senior. She was a first-team all-league pick her final three years.

Fukuroku, a first-team member of the Star-Bulletin's All-State team, was the top scorer in the Maui Interscholastic League as a junior and senior.

Higa, a four-year starter for Na Alii and a Star-Bulletin All-State first-team pick, helped Aiea win the Oahu Interscholastic Association championship this year.

Lu was in the goal as Santa Margarita won three consecutive conference titles.

The Wahine open the 2005 season against George Mason on Aug. 26 in the Ohana Hotels & Resorts No Ka Oi tournament. Brigham Young also is in the tournament.