At an optimistic 5 feet 7 and 150 pounds, Southern Methodist senior soccer player Duke Hashimoto has developed a strategy for competing against much-larger players.

Along with utilizing his speed and quickness, he tries to "avoid big guys as much as possible. I would try to not get into situations where I'm trying to shield them. Or get into places where they're going to kick me."

Hashimoto, a 2002 Iolani graduate from Kapolei, scored two goals in two conference games over the weekend and was named the Conference USA Men's Soccer Player of the Week.

"It was exciting, I guess," he said of his honor. "We kind of struggled early in the season and knew we had to get off on a good start in the conference.

"We dominated both games. I was able to get a lot of chances and finish a couple of them."

The forward/midfielder scored the first goal in a 2-1 victory against Alabama-Birmingham Friday and had the game-winner with 13 seconds remaining in a 2-1 win over defending C-USA champion Memphis Sunday.

Hashimoto leads SMU in scoring with four goals and two game-winners.

"As an athlete, coming up here I've definitely gotten a better touch playing in college," he said. "I'm doing a lot of things now. There are different aspects of my game that have improved.

"Shielding the ball ... I'm getting myself into better positions so the ball will end up at my feet instead of getting knocked around," he said.

While his success is no surprise — he was The Advertiser's All-State Player of the Year in 2002 — it follows a year when Hashimoto suffered a huge letdown.

Last season, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee halfway through the season. He had five goals with three assists before the injury.

"I think the first month or so I was really upset about it, and then after that I just had to focus on getting it back into playing shape," Hashimoto said. "It wasn't really that big of a deal.

"I don't really think about it (anymore). It feels really good. It pops a little bit, but it's just scar tissue getting worked out. The last (injury I had), I fell on it, and I was out for a week. That hasn't happened yet on this knee."

The season-ending injury was especially disappointing considering he was coming off a summer when he won a national championship with his Honolulu Soccer Club Bulls Under-19 team.

"I think that really had an effect on the way I played in my junior year," he said. "I came off that, I was confident and playing well, and that extra experience of playing over the summer really helped. I was really fit and playing at the top of my game."

This summer, he played on a few men's league teams in Dallas to prepare for his final season. It's just one of the ways he prepares for playing against tough college competition.

"A lot of the soccer players in Hawai'i, their size is a huge disadvantage," Hashimoto said. "Playing in a men's league helps. I think a lot of the time, quickness and getting away from bigger guys and not getting into those confrontations with them helps."

Raising his level of awareness and ability has helped Hashimoto in other areas.

"Personally, I have a lot more confidence now, knowing I can play at this level, play with the guys up here," said Hashimoto, who hopes to continue his soccer career playing professionally. "Now I feel like no matter where I go, I can handle it. The first couple of years here, I was really homesick. Texas is a really different place. Wherever I go from now on, it's going to be a lot easier, because I've already experienced a whole different culture."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.