Kaua’i Soccer Association’s teams represented Kaua’i well in the 2003 Mililani 7-A-Side Tournament with 11 teams participating. Coming off KSA’s Fall 7-A-Side season, which ended in early November, all of these teams practiced hard every week to prepare themselves for
Kaua’i Soccer Association’s teams represented Kaua’i well in the 2003 Mililani 7-A-Side Tournament with 11 teams participating.
Coming off KSA’s Fall 7-A-Side season, which ended in early November, all of these teams practiced hard every week to prepare themselves for hard competition in this tournament. With KSA’s season, our teams came to understand the game format, tactics and what would be needed to do well.
Seven of the 11 teams made it to the semifinals, including the boys’ Under-12 Hanalei Titans, coached by Tom Candelaria; and boys’ Under-9 Lihu’e Cougars, who lost in an exciting game against the Riggers in double overtime. The Cougars were coached by Jeff Mendez. Also, Gary Towner’s Girls’ U-14 team Blue Dolphins, which placed first in the semifinals in Pool A, fell to another Kaua’i team, the Kaua’i Soccer Club-North.
The four teams advancing to play the championship games knew they were representing our island and did their best despite poor weather conditions of pouring rain and muddy fields.
Taking second place was the boys’ U-14 Motiv-8 team, coached by Frank Bukoski (HSC Bulls 4-0); Robert Shim’s girls’ U-11 Lihu’e Lightning (HSC Bulls 3-0); and girls’ U-14 Kaua’i Soccer Club-North, coached by Gwen Tamura (Mililani Shockers 4-1).
The Kaua’i Soccer Club-East coached by Kevin Devitt, were first in their pool and remained undefeated throughout the tournament, won the championship in the girls’ U-13 division and came home with gold medals.
The KSC-East players are Brandi Gomes, Christine Yotsuda, Tiana Kunioka, Dominique Bartolo, Stephany Foster, Randy Hudson, Michelle Kato, Kailyn Kealoha, Sanoe Kiilinoe, Megan Pablo, Lindsey Taylor, Destiny Smith, Whitney Rowe, Kalia Mayer and Ashlyn Ubongen.
Also participating in this tournament with good, strong showing were Gary Hudson’s boys’ U-12 Motiv-8; Hanalei Titans boys’ U-12 coached by Tom Candelaria; coach Scott Fisher’s boys’ U-10 Westside United; and girls’ U-12 Chicks Who Rip, coached by Shari Shimabukuro.
All 11 teams gained in experience by playing other teams from the state and returned home knowing what improvements are needed to be stronger competitors in next year’s tournament.
The Kaua’i Soccer Association encourages more teams to register in its fall 7-A-Side Season and to compete in the 2004 Mililani tournament.
