Lady Hurricanes Make Climb Up Ranks Of Prep Soccer
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usWith 25 wins over the past two seasons and a pair of state tournament appearances to its credit, the Kapolei girls soccer team officially has entered the high-rent district of prep soccer.
Indeed, you know expectations have multiplied when winning the consolation title at the state tournament is no longer considered a stepping stone.
“The girls did well last year, but we tripped up near the end and they weren’t satisfied with that,” said Kapolei coach Brian Beck.“After our game with Kalani, I could see the drive and determination in our girls. They knew (the consolation title) wasn’t good enough.As a team, they knew they could do better. They’re excited and ready to get going.”
Kapolei, which officially begins practice Monday, finished 12-5-2 overall last season following a break-through 2006-07 when they were 13-3-3 and captured a first-ever OIA title as well as earning the program’s first trip to the state tournament. Those are impressive numbers for a relative newcomer to the West, which already features traditional powers Aiea, Mililani and Pearl City, the defending OIA champion.
Optimism this fall centers around seniors Liana Gualdarama and Kirsten Otsuka. Both have been impact players since their sophomore seasons when they helped lead Kapolei to its aforementioned OIA crown.
A third senior projected to be in the lineup was high-scoring forward Chelsea Swann, but Beck announced late last week that she had transferred to a high school in Boston.
“It’s a big loss for us, but it is better for her,” Beck said.
In Gualdarama, a forward, and Otsuka, who is a mid-fielder, the Hurricanes figure to have two of the top players in the West. Their off-the-court efforts should figure equally big, said Beck, who has made developing the leadership on his team a point of emphasis this year.
“I think it (a lack of leadership) is why we faltered a bit at the end last year,“said Beck, whose team finished sixth in the OIA.“We’ll have a real young team again,but we have a lot of good leadership.
“Kirsten will be the heart of the team this year. She’s the most unselfish player I’ve coached, and she’ll be our (all-time) assist leader when she leaves here. Every time she touches the ball, something tremendous is going to happen.
“Liana is the same way as Kirsten. They’re great friends on and off of the court, and they’ve played a lot of soccer together. As a player, Liana never gets rattled. She always plays within herself, and she has a world-class shot.”
Among the Hurricanes’ priorities in preseason camp will be installing a new offense.
“It’s kind of an overhaul,” Beck explained.“With the players we have back this year, we want to be an attacking and swarming offense and not sit back, which we sometimes did last year. The attacking mentality is what we’re going with this year.”
Kapolei begins its regular season Dec. 2 at home against Campbell. That game will mark the first meeting since the 2005-06 season between the neighborhood rivals, as the Sabers have spent the last two years competing in Division II.
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