LIHU‘E — While the American Youth Soccer Organization, Region 940 was hosting playoff games for its Under 12 and Under 14 teams, it also closed off the season for the Under 6 and Under 8 teams with its annual SoccerFest,
LIHU‘E — While the American Youth Soccer Organization, Region 940 was hosting playoff games for its Under 12 and Under 14 teams, it also closed off the season for the Under 6 and Under 8 teams with its annual SoccerFest, Saturday.
“Soccerfest is an opportunity for the kids to end their season on a positive note,” said William Trugillo, commissioner for AYSO Region 940, in a release. “It is also an opportunity for the players and their families to celebrate a very successful season and time together.”
One of the highlights of the SoccerFest is the receiving of a medal by each player participating in the event, said Maile Moriguchi, the public relations coordinator for AYSO, Region 940.
Hanapepe Harbor Park, located adjacent to the Hanapepe Stadium where a full slate of football games was unfolding in the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League, and the North Vidinha soccer fields were the two sites where abbreviated games preceeded carnival games, face painting, waterslides, shave ice, popcorn, chips and POG juice.
Moriguchi said the success of the event is due to sponsors that include Meadow Gold, Frito Lay, Rosa’s Supply and Na Hoku O Kaua‘i pageant.
The AYSO Region 940 Under 10 division will close its season this weekend with the Friendship Games.
“The two AYSO Kaua‘i regions, 940 representing West Kaua‘i and Lihu‘e, and 941 representing East Kaua‘i, are coming together to enjoy friendly competition in the U10 division,” Trugillo said. “It is always fun to see the kids and parents get excited about competing against new teams.”
The Friendship Games are scheduled to inaugurate the fields at the recently-dedicated Weinberg Sports Park at Lydgate starting at 9 a.m. The final game starts at 12:45 p.m.
For the AYSO, Region 940 U14 teams, playoff action continues on Tuesday when the Waimea Onipa‘a, coached by Trugillo, hosts Lihu‘e (Cabreira) in a winner’s bracket playoff in Waimea starting at 4:30 p.m.
Lihu‘e (Curtis) goes up against Koloa (Bukoski) in an elimination bracket matchup at the North Vidinha fields also starting at 4:30 p.m.
AYSO is a nationwide nonprofit organization that develops and delivers quality youth soccer programs in a fun, family environment based on AYSO’s Six Philosophies: Everyone Plays, Balanced Teams, Open Registration, Positive Coaching, Good Sportsmanship and Player Development.
