• Warriors on a mission Warriors on a mission By Duane Shimogawa Jr. – The Garden Island Four years of pain and suffering could all come to an end for the Kapa‘a Warriors girls varsity soccer squad this season. And
• Warriors on a mission
Warriors on a mission
By Duane Shimogawa Jr. – The Garden Island
Four years of pain and suffering could all come to an end for the Kapa‘a Warriors girls varsity soccer squad this season. And all they have to do is win their season finale against a tough Waimea team on January 29 at Hanapepe Ballpark. Second year head coach Crissy Marti has her squad ready for the challenge ahead of them.
“We’ve definitely gained a lot of confidence with our success so far this season,” Marti said.
From 1996-1999, Marti was a soccer standout for the 4-time KIF champion Kapa‘a High School girls varsity soccer team.
According to Marti, the team seems to be on the same page this season and should be good for years to come, hopefully enjoying the same successes she did back when she was starring on the field. “We’re like a family, when one person messes up, we all come together and help each other out,” Marti said.
On the field, the Warriors are certainly playing as a team, but this season’s success could be attributed to what happens off the field.
“We do a lot of team-bonding, we go camping, we go to the movies, we even workout at six in the morning together, there’s no cliques on this team, we’re one ball,” Marti said.
Marti, who played professional soccer in Spain after a successful stint at the University of Portland, utilized the same tactics she and her teammates did when she played for Kapa‘a, along with Arlene Devitt, Brandi Nakano, Maja Marti, and current assistant Mytra McKeague.
Notable players this season include Britney Carvalho, who has a nose for the ball, Amniesty Ragsac, a terror on defense, Rancee Wilson, a scoring machine, Joanne Kaona, a tough as nails type of player, Liana Kakalia, a great leader, Meagan Pablo, a human backboard at goalie, Carrie Esaki, the green flash, Ka‘ala Leong, a relentless player and freshman Tiana Kunioka, the future, playing tough now for the Warrior soccer squad.
“I’m happy to coach this team, we have fun, but they know when I’m being serious,” Marti said. As a coach, Marti has found the equal balance of knowing when to be a friend and when to put her foot down.
“All of my players exceeded my expectations this season, they’re just a great group of girls and we’re 100 times better than last year,” Marti said.
Confidence certainly comes along with winning, but with a confident coach, it’s hard to not be a confident player as well.
Marti has shown this season, along with her players, that playing as a team can translate into wins, and possibly a championship. “It will be over in two weeks and you can quote me on that,” Marti said when asked about the Warriors’ chances of winning the KIF title this season.
With that statement, you really can’t get any more confident than that, and that’s why the KIF girls soccer world, might be seeing a green reflection on the KIF trophy this season!
Duane Shimogawa Jr., Sports Editor can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) and kauaisports@pulitzer.net
