Isle players getting their kicks in soccer

Christian Marston (Kapaa '03) concluded his college soccer career by helping Vanguard to a 14-3-3 season, second place in the Golden State Athletic Conference and the Lions' first-ever berth in the NAIA Region II championship match.

The senior midfielder, team captain and nonstop worker in the center, started 19 of 20 matches and scored once on his nine shots.

Marston was an All-GSAC first-team selection and was an NAIA All-America honorable-mention pick. He is an international business major.

Tom Culver, who transferred to Vanguard after a year at Grossmont College, played in 18 matches. The 2005 Maryknoll graduate who played for Pac-Five scored two goals, both match winners.

» Brandon Higa (Punahou '03) started 14 of 17 matches he played for the 11-7 California Lutheran Kingsmen. The junior midfielder's only goal, an unassisted effort, was a match winner. It came early in the season at the 35-minute mark in a 1-0 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. He had two assists.

» Shane Graf (Honolulu Waldorf '06), a freshman midfielder, shot four times in four matches for the NCAA Division III Kingsmen.

» Lokahi Bounds (Damien '04) scored two goals and had three assists in 14 matches for the 15-5-2 Cumberland (Williamsburg, Ky.) Patriots who finished second in the Mid-South Conference. The junior midfielder transferred to the NAIA school from Yavapai College last fall.

» Jennifer Tengan (Baldwin '02), a senior midfielder, had one assist in 20 matches for the California Lutheran Regals. Dana Kagawa (Aiea '03), a junior midfielder, played in 15 matches for the 8-13 Regals. Tengan took 16 shots and Kagawa three, but neither scored.

» Jen Junk (Kalaheo), a junior striker, saw action in 11 matches for the 10-9-1 Eastern Oregon Mountaineers. She scored one goal.

» Zach Dominy (Waiakea '05), a sophomore defender, was hampered by a hamstring pull and only played in eight matches for the Menlo Oaks.

» Milo Kalama (Iolani '05), a sophomore striker for the 6-10-1 Oaks, started 17 matches and had one assist.

Four local booters played varying amounts of time for the NCAA Division III Hanover College.

» Stephanie Schroer (Waipahu '05), a sophomore defender, was the busiest, starting eight of the 15 matches she played for the 5-12 Panthers.

» Tracy Tamashiro (Roosevelt '04), a junior midfielder, got off three shots in seven matches.

» Sophomore defender Chelsey Cabatu (Hilo '05) played in two matches and Chelsea Jaye Uchihara (Roosevelt '05) saw action in one.

Update on college commitments:

Marie Yempuku, a defender for Kamehameha's state champion girls, has committed to the Alabama-Birmingham Blazers after making official recruiting visits to UAB and Boise State.

"I really like the people at UAB. They are a lot like the people from Hawaii. I thought the coach (Paul Harbin) was genuine," said Yempuku.

The Blazers won the Conference USA Tournament, but lost to Tennessee 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

» The Southern Methodist Mustangs, for whom Duke Hashimoto starred for four seasons, have commitments from two more Hawaii players, central midfielders Keoki Haole (Kapolei) and Kekoa Osorio (Kamehameha). They join Cameron Holm (Hawaii Baptist '06), who redshirted last fall.

» Kimberly Morse (Iolani), a striker/midfielder, will play for the Central Florida Golden Knights of Conference USA.

Just for Kicks runs every other Friday in the Star-Bulletin. Al Chase can be reached at achase@starbulletin.com.