LIHU‘E — Kapa‘a High School graduate Chance Bukoski and Hawai‘i Pacific University midfielder Linus Ekden were selected to the 2009 Pac West Men’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team. That announcement was made by the Pacific West Conference office last week and
LIHU‘E — Kapa‘a High School graduate Chance Bukoski and Hawai‘i Pacific University midfielder Linus Ekden were selected to the 2009 Pac West Men’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team.
That announcement was made by the Pacific West Conference office last week and voted on by the conference coaches and sports information directors.
Bukoski starts his sophomore season with the HPU Sea Warriors following a strong high school career at Kapa‘a High School.
During the 2008 season, Bukoski earned First Team All-Pac West honors after scoring seven goals and recording four assists to help the Sea Warriors finish with a 9-2-1 second-place conference record.
Overall, HPU finished the 2008 season 11-5-2, one of its most successful seasons in the program’s history. That performance saw the Sea Warriors go undefeated in conference home games en route to their second-place finish.
Ikaika Fuerte, another Kapa‘a High School graduate, was signed by the Sea Warriors confirmed an HPU release in July.
Fuerte starts as a freshman from the Kapa‘a Warriors where he led his team to an undefeated season during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation league. He continued to lead the Kapa‘a team to the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Division II state championship, the first in Kapa‘a’s history.
He is a two-time All-State selection and made the State Championship All-Tournament Team during his junior and senior seasons at Kapa‘a.
Bukoski and Fuerte were teammates two seasons ago at Kapa‘a, and Bukoski is excited about being reunited with his teammate.
“We’ve known each other since we were six years old, and it will be great to be playing with Ikaika, again,” Bukoski said in the release. “I am looking forward to seeing how he can help the team this year.”
Scott Liedtke, head coach for the HPU Sea Warriors, is also excited about Fuerte’s joining the team.
“Ikaika is one of the top players coming out of Hawai‘i this year, and he will have a great opportunity to see playing time right away,” Liedtke said. “He understands the game well and is a very competitive player. He’s also very versatile, something that is a benefit for both himself, and the team.”
Ekden, a junior from Lidkoping, Sweden, returns after being selected to the All-Pac West First Team last year. He scored four goals and assisted on four more. He finished as a 2007 Pac West Newcomer of the Year selection.
In addition to the individual honors, HPU was selected to finish second in the order of finish. That selection was also voted on by the conference coaches and sports information directors. In the voting, the Sea Warriors received four first place votes, more than any other school in the conference.
HPU opens its 2009 season Friday against Upper Iowa University. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Atherton Field on the HPU Hawai‘i Loa campus.
