Lady Chargers Focus On Offensive Play In The New Year
By Jack Danilewicz
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The Pearl City girls soccer team’s long-standing success rate has invariably been tied to defense. That hasn’t changed, but co-head coach Tracee Kono isn’t underestimating the effects of renewed commitment on the offensive side.
Indeed, the Chargers have shown more spring to their step, offensively, lately with eight goals in wins over Aiea and Leilehua as they began the second round of the OIA Red West Conference slate. “We had trouble scoring in the first round, so that’s been our focus - to be more offensive,“said Kono, who coaches alongside longtime head man Frank Baumholtz.“Changes to our lineup have made us a little better on offense. We were a little disappointed in how we were playing in the first round. We went back to fundamentals, and we’ve picked it up in the second round.”
The Chargers took a 4-1-3 record into the weekend with games remaining against Waialua Jan. 12, Kapolei Jan.15, Mililani Jan. 19 and Campbell Jan. 22 to close out their regular season. Kono’s team was a point behind Kapolei in the standings, placing them third in the Red West. Mililani remained the pace-setter in the West with an 8-0 record as of last Thursday. With that in mind, Pearl City’s game at Kapolei at 5:30 p.m. Friday should figure big in both teams’ schedules. It could decide the No. 2 seed out of the West, should Mililani hold on to first place. Both the first- and second-place finishers receive opening round byes in the OIA post-season tournament.
Part of Pearl City’s recent surge has been because of its overall health. After losing six players to ACL injuries in 2008-09, the Chargers are finally getting healthy again. Among those who were unavailable last season were center-fullback Jillian Seminara and goalkeeper Makenzie Mauer, a center-mid previously in the program before moving between the pipes this time around. Seminara was lost for all of last year with a torn ACL, while Mauer was limited in 2008-09 by dislocated knee caps.
“Jillian plays every game as if it’s her last. She’s actually making up for missing last year. She’s also a good leader, and that really helps us,” noted Kono. “Makenzie is learning and improving every day. She made a key save versus Aiea on a penalty kick, which changed the momentum of the game. We were ahead 1-0, and that (save) gave us a little push to score another one (in a 2-0 victory Dec. 29).”
Seminara and Mauer are captains along with Kristi Iwahashi, who also holds down a spot at as a center/mid-fielder.“Kristy is still controlling the middle for us,” said Kono. “All three are real good kids on and off the field.”
Relative newcomer Kristen Maeno also has given the Chargers a charge at the forward position, although only a freshman. “She’s not really playing like a freshman - she’s more like a senior,” Kono said. “She’s small in frame, but she’s not afraid of the physical contact. She has a good understanding of the game and creates a lot of scoring opportunities by just being aggressive.”
Kono also emphasized the importance of the Chargers playing “a complete game.”
“We have to play two good halves instead of one,” she explained, “but we’re happy that the kids are starting to believe they can win, which is unlike teams we’ve had here in the past. There’s been a willingness to improve.”
Pearl City’s lone loss came in a road game at Mililani, 2-0, on Dec. 18. Friday’s opponent, Kapolei, was among those the Chargers tied in the league’s first go-around. The teams battled to a scoreless stalemate on Dec. 15.
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