StarBulletin.com

Punahou had Look of a champ


By

POSTED: Sunday, April 04, 2010

At Punahou, offseason rivals became championship teammates.

Under coach Matt Martinson, it didn't matter where you played in the offseason. Martinson's even-keeled approach fit well with a highly competitive, but obedient, collection of talent.

The starting point was easy enough. Midfielder Karli Look's versatility and unselfishness proved to be the anchor that kept the Buffanblu steady through a rough regular season—an Interscholastic League of Honolulu title. Look gave up a share of offensive responsibilities to shore up the defense, and the result was a state championship for Punahou.

Look was selected the Star-Bulletin girls soccer player of the year, and Martinson was named coach of the year.

“;Coach Matt was really supportive. If he saw a problem on the field, he wouldn't hesitate to step in,”; Look said.

Look, who will attend UH in the fall, was a pristine example of soccer excellence. Using her creativity and guile, the 5-foot-3 senior was rarely predictable. Deft footwork, outstanding speed and leadership on and off the field provided the program with a jack-of-all-trades general.

“;She's one of the hardest working players on the field,”; Martinson said. “;She has excellent ball skills and a very high work rate. She has the ability to shut down the best players on the opposite team.”;

Punahou was layered with talent from competing club teams such as Leahi and the Honolulu Bulls, as well as Abunai and Ka'oi.

“;Our team had really good chemistry,”; Look said. “;We got along and we're all friends. We didn't have any drama.”;

Martinson was pleased to find players willing to provide the right example.

“;Karli is very humble. She's a quiet leader and a lot of players look up to her work ethic,”; Martinson said.

Martinson's guidance was consistent, testing the potential of a squad that was quick, but not necessarily big. He had no hesitation about relying on Look, though she often faced taller, bigger foes.

“;As a sophomore, you could see her potential was high. I knew it was a matter of time before she'd gain that confidence. She had the speed and aggressiveness, and her skills caught up,”; he said.

Martinson's attention to detail extended beyond the field. During the state championships, he cautioned his team to get plenty of rest, even as the school's annual carnival was bustling. The Buffanblu heeded his warning and prevailed over Mililani, 2-1, in a shootout, for the crown.

“;We knew early on that we had to find our identity,”; Martinson said. “;Many players did not know each other very well, but quickly learned to trust one another and work as a team. We did not rely on a standout, but everyone did their part. This team was heralded by our staff as a very hard-working, passionate group of players. I'm very proud of them.”;

 

First Team

; Allyson Holtz

Punahou

Position: Forward

Class: Junior

12 goals in ILH play

 

 

; Caprice Dydasco

Kamehameha

Position: Forward

Class: Junior

All-ILH, five goals

 

 

; Tiana Fujimoto

Moanalua

Position: Forward

Class: Junior

27 goals in OIA, postseason

 

 

; Mari Miyashiro

Mililani

Position: Forward

Class: Senior

Led Trojans to state final

 

 

; Courtney-Rae Botelho

Kamehameha

Position: Midfielder

Class: Senior

All-ILH, seven goals

 

 

; Sasha Moscatello

Mililani

Position: Midfielder

Class: Senior

Powerhouse in middle

 

 

; Kylie Chun

Punahou

Position: Defense

Class: Freshman

Defensive menace to foes

 

 

; Chelsea Miyake

Mililani

Position: Defense

Class: Senior

Eight goals out of backfield

 

 

; Kelsey Hung

'Iolani

Position: Defense

Class.: Sophomore

Stellar in elite defense

 

 

; Anuhea Kahele-Manners

Punahou

Position: Goalkeeper

Class: Freshman

Peaked at state tournament

 

 

; Matt Martinson

Punahou

Coach of the Year

Led Buffanblu to state crown

 

 

SECOND TEAM

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
PlayerSchoolClassPosition 
Lahaina ZollerPunahouJuniorForward
T.J. ReynoMililaniFreshmanForward
Sonya AguirreKalaniSeniorForward
Elissa Minamishin'IolaniSeniorForward
Krystal Pascua'IolaniJuniorMidfielder
Kendra TrifonovitchPunahouSeniorMidfielder
Logan ChanSacred HeartsJuniorMidfielder
Jaclyn KhilPunahouSeniorDefense
Sarah HayashiPunahouJuniorDefense
Liz HigashinoKamehameha-MauiJuniorDefense
Rosie NakataMililaniSeniorGoalkeeper

 

THIRD TEAM

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
PlayerSchoolClassPosition 
Daisy “;Kama”; Pascua'IolaniFreshmanForward
Andrea AguirreKalaniSeniorForward
Chardynae MorganNanakuliJuniorForward
Maya PalaroanKing KekaulikeSophomoreForward
Amber-Lei MadriagaBaldwinSophomoreMidfielder
Bre KerrHiloSeniorMidfielder
Kendal KagawaPac-FiveJuniorMidfielder
Lauren UeharaMililaniSophomoreDefense
Amanda McCaskill'IolaniSophomoreDefense
C'era OliveiraPac-FiveSeniorDefense
Shanelle KapaonaKamehamehaSeniorGoalkeeper

 

HONORABLE MENTION

(listed alphabetically)

Forwards

Nicole Betters, Pac-Five

Dakota Burnett, Kapaa

Taylor Cambra, Christian Liberty

Monica Carlos, Honokaa

Isabelle Curtis, Kauai

Noelani Enos, Hawaii Prep

Natalie Fukuhara, Aiea

Ashley Kanoho, Kailua

Iolana Keaukulani, KS-Hawaii

Karina Keith, Kealakehe

Janee Lee, Waianae

Kuuipo Nakoa, Hawaii Prep

Carly Neal, Kamehameha

Ayesha Pladera, Baldwin

Zhane Santiago, Kahuku

Skye Shimabukuro, Kauai

Ashlyn Ubongen, Kauai

Claire Uyetake, Hilo

Midfielders

Natasha Ah Chong, KS-Hawaii

Kristina Behrens, Kapolei

Malia Brennan, 'Iolani

Katie Case, Hawaii Prep

Marissa Fukuhara, Aiea

Breanne Gaddis, Baldwin

Danielle Galveso, Kailua

Brandi Gomes, Kauai

Tia Greenwell, Honokaa

Ashley Haruki, Pac-Five

Kristin Ho, Roosevelt

Shayla Hosaka, Castle

Kristy Iwahashi, Pearl City

Kendal Kagawa, Pac-Five

Kelsey Kapisi, Maui

Storm Kenui, Moanalua

Bre Kerr, Hilo

Kimberly Kishimoto, Honokaa

Sydney Meheula, Punahou

Amber-Lei Madriaga, Baldwin

Carleen Miguel, Waimea

Tamra Nee, Kaiser

Seri Niimi-Burch, Kapaa

Chloe Nishioka, Hilo

Lauren Stollar, Punahou

Angelique Thompson, Christian Liberty

Defenders

Tambrie Awai, Kalani

Teal Basquez, Kauai

Hailey Berg, Kapolei

Kaisha Chu, Moanalua

Larissa Crain, Kapaa

McKenna Davidson, Kealakehe

Ashley Deguchi, Mililani

Kapua Entendencia, Kamehameha

Tracee Fukunaga, Hilo

Tarra Gabriel, Kamehameha

Kelsey Higa, Pac-Five

Sierra Kadooka, Kailua

Milan Kerr, Hilo

Takara Kunioka, Kapaa

Lexi Mabuni, Makua Lani

Sarah Nagamine, Moanalua

Selena Osorio, Hawaii Prep

Ashley Park-Hunt, 'Iolani

Jessica Prince, Kalani

Jillian Seminara, Pearl City

Stacie Shibano, Kailua

Megan Souza, Kapaa

Karley Swain, Waiakea

Kylie Taketa, KS-Hawaii

Kealy Witt, Honokaa

Goalkeepers

Kathy Chun, Kalani

Kayla Davidson, Kealakehe

Christa Lum, Waiakea

Saige Manatad, Kailua

Jessica Iwata, Kauai