East Red Champion Falcons Coming Together For States

Wednesday - February 07, 2007
By Jack Danilewicz
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Kalani’s Andrea Aguirre (left) and Lyndsee Sugano practice their game. Photo by Nathalie Walker
Kalani’s Andrea Aguirre (left) and Lyndsee
Sugano practice their game. Photo by
Nathalie Walker, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The Kalani girls soccer team has discovered that there is, indeed, strength in numbers. But for all their balance, coach Ryan Shinkawa knows that collective cohesiveness remains its overriding characteristic.

“This team has been really fortunate to have a group of unselfish players,” Shinkawa said. “We have 12 or so who have been asked to play multiple positions. They realize it’s for the betterment of the team. They’re all trying to do what they can to make this team better.”

The Falcons were to play Mililani last Friday in the third place game of the OIA Conference Tournament. Kalani had already clinched a berth in the state tournament Jan. 27 with a 3-0 victory over Castle in the quarterfinals. Kalani’s appearance in the state tournament is its second in as many years after failing to make the field in the previous 24 years. Last season they finished eighth in the tournament, an experience that Shinkawa hopes will pay dividends this time around.


“After going through it last year, a lot of the girls know what to expect now,“said Shinkawa, whose team finished the regular season at 9-2-1 to win the East Red crown. “They know what it’s all about. They realize they have to take it one game at a time. We were real young last year, so I think we’re more able to deal with these situations.”

Seedings and matchups for the tournament, which runs Wednesday through Saturday, were to be announced over the weekend. For their part, the Falcons are more likely to be preoccupied with their own play, rather than a detailed scouting report on the opposition.

“We have to remember what got us to this point, which is playing as a team,“Shinkawa said.“We have so many people that contribute. Our junior class has been big for us. They’re kind of the glue that holds everything together. We have great chemistry - we just need to keep that up.”

The Falcons also have a lot of offensive weapons, although they remain a team that takes pride in its workmanlike mentality. Sophomore halfback Tani Costa led the OIA Red East in scoring during the regular season with 12 goals. She also tallied twice in Kalani’s quarterfinal victory.

“She’s a tremendous athlete,” Shinkawa said.“She’s physically gifted, but I’ve always thought her strength was her athleticism and her work ethic.”

The Falcons have also thrived on the leadership of senior co-captains Aly Suehiro, Lyndsee Sugano and Marcy Fujimoto.


“They’ve definitely helped to set a good example vocally or with their play,” Shinkawa said. “They do a good job of keeping our team focused on what we need to do in practice and in games.”

Shinkawa also praised the play of sophomore halfback Kara Yamamoto and freshman goal-keeper Tamra Nee, who settled into her position in late December.

“Coming in, she was a ‘field’player. We asked her to play in goal at mid-season, and she was more than willing to do that. That (move) has really paid off for us. Quite a few of our underclassmen have stepped up.

“You definitely need the ball to bounce your way a couple of times,” he said. “With the teams being so even, every game could go either way. At this time of the year, it’s a matter of which team is coming together at the right time. Our girls are just excited about the opportunity.”

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