Jocelyn Enrique, playing for the Honolulu Soccer Club Bulls 90, stepped up for a goal in overtime to break the tie and give the HSC Bulls90 the title in the Girls Under 18 division of the 2008 U.S. Youth Soccer
Jocelyn Enrique, playing for the Honolulu Soccer Club Bulls 90, stepped up for a goal in overtime to break the tie and give the HSC Bulls90 the title in the Girls Under 18 division of the 2008 U.S. Youth Soccer Hawai‘i State Cup.
That goal came the day following Enrique’s participation in the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association’s state softball championship.
The Kapa‘a High School recent graduate was captain to the team that rose from its play-in position in the tournament to finish third in the HHSAA Division II after coming back from a loss to Pac-Five and getting past Lana‘i High School on championship day.
Following that, Enrique was selected as a member of the Div. II all-tournament team as an infielder. Other softball honors which included being named to the 2007 Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation softball all-star team and the Kapa‘a softball MVP in 2006 and 2008.
“Jocelyn has always demonstrated a tremendous game sense about soccer,” said Phil Neddo, Director of Coaching for the HSC Bulls, in an e-mail. “Each time her club team has qualified for the Nationals, she has been a major contributor in key plays.”
Neddo said the game where her clutch goal in the finals lifted her Bulls 90 team to its State Cup Championship.
Returning home, Enrique, the daughter of Joe and Mary Enrique of Anahola, was selected as the Kapa‘a High School 2008 Female Athlete of the Year during the school’s awards banquet. En route to that honor, Enrique was announced as the Varsity Girls Soccer MVP as well as the softball MVP.
I Enrique was presented with the 2008 Kaua‘i Soccer Club-Rusk/McRoberts College Scholarship for her participation in the KSC program under the Kaua‘i Soccer Association seasons.
“Soccer has always been a big part of my life and I played for the fact that it was fun, competitive and helped shape who I am,” Enrique said in accepting the annual scholarship. “Soccer taught me good work ethics and nothing comes easy, but you have to work hard for what you want.”
In addition to her participation in sports, Enrique served as class secretary and was voted to this year’s homecoming court. She is also a member of the Kapa‘a Cross Country team, Interact and Earth clubs.
A press release from KSC states that Enrique is also a certified American Youth Soccer Organization official and coach.
Additionally, she has been playing soccer for 13 years in both the AYSO and the HYSA leagues.
Enrique finished her senior year by being named the 2008 KIF’s girl’s soccer MVP and combined that honor by being named to the KIF all-stars, her second straight year, as a defender where her booming foot sent many balls out of harm’s way.
Enrique was the co-captain for the Kapa‘a Warriors squad as well as the 2008 HYSA State Seniors All-Star blue team.
Enrique was tapped as the Division MVP and named Leading Tournament Scorer at the U.S. Club Soccer National Tournament where the HSC Bulls finished in third place in the 2007 U.S. Club Soccer Regionals.
“Jocelyn has always been a great soccer player, not only for her athletic abilities, but for her love of the game,” said Colby Ayonon, Kapa‘a’s girls soccer coach. “Her mental toughness has always prepared her to ‘win’ both on the field and in the classroom and it has been a pleasure to coach an individual like her who shows that success is achieved with hard work, dedication and perseverance.”
Enrique has been playing as a member of the KSC for 11 years, nine of those under coach Gwen Tamura.
“It’s going to be tough seeing her leave,” Tamura said. “Jocie was a very serious, dedicated player who was a driving force who focused on the game and played from the heart. She was a captain of her KSC teams for many years, continuously encouraging her team mates with compassion and a lot of laughter.”
With graduation behind her, Enrique is looking at her hectic summer schedule which includes playing in the soccer regionals coming up June 16 on O‘ahu.
If the Bulls 90 win that title, nationals will follow, punctuated by a schedule of softball tournaments in California.
With just a week to rest, Enrique will be flying to Colorado for a softball training camp and will play in the 2008 Softball World Series which precedes her training with the University of Hawai‘i softball team.
Enrique plans to continue playing with the HSC Bulls 90 and will walk-on to the University of Hawai‘i girls soccer team.
She is the sixth recipient of the KSC-Rusk/McRoberts College Scholarship. Past recipients have included LaRisa Nibre, Waika Oliver, JoAnne Kaona, Erin Pickett and Brittney Carvalho.
“I was not the fastest, or the best player on the teams, but I learned how to motivate, encourage and lead,” Enrique said. “I’ve learned that no matter what you do, put others before yourself.”
That sentiment was echoed by Neddo who said, “No worries for us, we have Jocelyn Enrique!”
