Posted on: Wednesday, November 19, 2008
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Rutgers' Medcalf still kicking it in postseason
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
Of the 64 teams that earned a berth in the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament, five of them had a player from Hawai'i.
After the first two rounds of the tournament, just one remains.
Ashley Medcalf, a sophomore for Rutgers, is a 2007 graduate of Christian Academy and the lone survivor with local ties.
The Scarlet Knights beat Penn State, 2-1, in double-overtime Friday after rallying from a goal down at halftime. A goal in the 74th minute tied it and in the 105th minute, Rutgers put away the Nittany Lions to advance to meet then-No. 7 Oklahoma State Sunday.
The Cowgirls boasted the nation's top scoring offense, but the game went to penalty kicks after a scoreless regulation and two overtime periods.
Rutgers won 4-2 on penalty kicks. The game was played in blistery, 15 to 25 mile per hour winds. Medcalf, who started both games, has scored one goal this season and helped the Scarlet Knights' defense surrender just 0.62 goals per game.
"As far as our backs go, for the most part this year they have been the rock of our team," Rutgers coach Glenn Crooks said. "Their performances, game in and game out, have been very consistent and at a very high level. If you look at the box scores, the majority of the matches we limit the opponents, and a big part of that is how organized our backs are and how they play together."
Rutgers, playing in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2001, visits Stanford Friday.
MORE WOMEN'S SOCCER
Denver junior forward Lizzy Carlson (Punahou '06 of Honolulu) has been named to the All-Sun Belt Conference first team. Carlson scored two goals and had four assists for the Pioneers, who fell to Kansas, 2-1, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday. Denver ended its season at 19-3-2.
Harvard senior midfielder Rachael Lau (Punahou '05 of Honolulu) took two shots in Friday's loss to Northeastern in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Each team scored a goal in both halves before two scoreless overtime periods took them to penalty kicks, where Northeastern prevailed, 4-2. The Crimson finished 10-3-5.
Long Beach State senior midfielder Mariko Strickland (Mid-Pacific '04 of Anahola) played all 90 minutes in Friday's 1-0 loss to San Diego in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The 49ers ended their season at 14-5-4.
Northern Arizona sophomore midfielder/defender Miya Quinn (Mid-Pacific '07 of Honolulu) played 22 minutes in a reserve role in Friday's 6-1 loss at Portland. The Lumbersjacks ended their season at 12-7-3.
Westmont senior forward Amy Lawson ('Iolani '04 of Honolulu) and Azusa Pacific senior forward Sarah Yoro (Mililani '05) were named to the Golden State Athletic Conference first team last week. Lawson had 11 goals and five assists for the Warriors while Yoro found the goal 12 times with four assists for the Cougars. Azusa Pacific won its fourth straight GSAC title and hosts William Jessup in Saturday's first round of the NAIA tournament.
MEN'S SOCCER
Creighton sophomore midfielder Jeremy Wittig (Lutheran '07 of Kane'ohe) has appeared in 11 matches this season for the Bluejays (14-1-2). Creighton is the seventh seed in the NCAA Division I Men's Tournament and plays the winner of Friday's game between Tulsa and Missouri-Kansas City on Tuesday.
St. Mary's (Calif.) senior midfielder Justin Kim (Mililani '04) netted his first two goals of the season in Friday's 3-2 win over Portland. Kim scored in the 80th minute on a header and in the 93rd minute on a shot from 25 yards out. Kim scored on a header in the eighth minute of Sunday's 4-0 season-finale win over Gonzaga. He also assisted on the Gaels' last goal, coming in the 64th minute.
Pacific senior defender Jared Komo (Makua Lani Christian '05 of Kailua, Kona) was named Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference, the league announced yesterday. Komo, a three-year starter, played in 19 matches and had one assist.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Washington junior libero Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani '05 of Kane'ohe) had a match-high 15 digs, two assists and two aces in Friday's sweep at Oregon State. Junior setter Camilla Ah-Hoy (Kahuku '06 of La'ie) dished out 39 assists with four digs for the Beavers. In a four-set win at Oregon Sunday, Miyashiro collected 23 digs with two assists and an ace. In a five-set loss to Washington State, Ah-Hoy had 63 assists, eight digs and two kills.
St. Mary's freshman outside hitter Chanteal Satele (Word of Life '08 of Mililani) slammed 16 kills to lead her team to a four-set win at San Diego Thursday. She also had two blocks and an assist. Sophomore setter Kapua Kamana'o ('Iolani '07 of Honolulu) had 45 assists, six digs, two blocks and an ace, and junior middle hitter Megan Burton ('Iolani '06 of Kapolei) added six kills and eight blocks. In Saturday's four-set loss at San Francisco, Kamana'o had 38 assists, six digs, two blocks and an ace while Burton put away eight kills and one block. The Gaels (17-7, 7-4 West Coast) wrap up regular-season play Friday against Santa Clara.
Long Beach State freshman defensive specialist Lauren Minkel ('Iolani '08 of Honolulu) had 18 digs in a five-set win over UC Irvine last Wednesday. In Thursday's sweep of UC Riverside, Minkel scooped up 10 digs. The 49ers (23-4, 12-2 Big West) are assured at least a share of the Big West Conference title with two matches to play.
St. John's senior libero Lena Yee (Moanalua '05 of Honolulu) had 17 digs, one assist and an ace in Friday's five-set win over Notre Dame. In Sunday's four-set loss to DePaul, Yee collected 15 digs for the Red Storm (21-8, 12-2 Big East). St. John's, which won a share of the Big East regular-season title with Cincinnati, is the top seed in the Big East Tournament and plays South Florida Friday.
Syracuse senior defensive specialist Marissa Kanemura (University High '05 of Honolulu) had 13 digs and one assist in Sunday's sweep of West Virginia. The Orange (17-14, 8-6 Big East) meet Louisville Friday in the first round of the Big East Tournament.
Fairfield freshman outside hitter Haililani Pokipala (Sacred Hearts '08 of Honolulu) had 14 digs, two assists and two aces in Saturday's five-set win over Loyola. Senior libero Brandi Higa (Hawai'i Baptist '04 of Honolulu) added 11 digs and two aces. Higa had 10 digs and Pokipala added six digs and three aces in Sunday's sweep of Manhattan. The Stags (19-12, 16-2 Metro-Atlantic) play Iona Sunday in the MAAC tournament semifinal round.
Regis (Colo.) freshman defensive specialist Cassidee Young (Kamehameha '08 of Pearl City) had a match-high 18 digs and two assists Friday to help the Rangers sweep Fort Lewis in the quarterfinals of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament. In a four-set semifinal win over Adams State Saturday, Young had 18 digs and six aces. In Sunday's championship final, Young collected 15 digs to lead her team to a four-set win over Mesa State. Regis (19-11) visits Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.) tomorrow in the first round of the NCAA Division II Central Regional.
Adelphi (N.Y.) sophomore setter Heather Mau (Maryknoll '07 of Honolulu) had 42 assists, six digs, five kills and four aces in last Wednesday's four-set win over NYIT. In Friday's three-set loss to Bridgeport, Mau had 21 assists, three digs and a block for the Panthers (27-10), who earned an at-large berth to the NCAA D-II East Regional and will play Dowling tomorrow. Mau was a second-team All-East Coast Conference selection.
Central Washington sophomore libero Brandie Vea (Kalani '07 of Honolulu) had 17 digs, two assists and two aces in Thursday's five-set loss to Alaska-Anchorage. In Saturday's sweep of Alaska-Fairbanks, Vea tallied a match-high 23 digs with two assists and one kill for the Wildcats (16-12, 8-8 Great Northwest). On Monday, Vea was named first-team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
FOOTBALL
Southern California senior linebacker Kaluka Maiava (Baldwin '04 of Wailuku) had seven tackles in Saturday's 45-23 win over Stanford. Sophomore defensive lineman Matthew Masifilo (Campbell '07 of 'Ewa Beach) had two tackles and recovered a fumble in the third quarter for the Cardinal.
Oregon State senior safety Al Afalava (Kahuku '05 of La'ie) had four tackles and broke up a pass in Saturday's 34-21 win over California. Freshman defensive back Brandon Hardin (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) was in on three tackles, sophomore safety Suaesi Tuimaunei (Kahuku '06 of La'ie) had two stops and freshman linebacker David Pa'aluhi (Kamehameha '07 of Wai'anae) helped on a sack. Junior defensive end Tyson Alualu (Saint Louis '05 of Honolulu) had six tackles and senior defensive tackle Mika Kane (Kamehameha '05 of Kailua) added three for the Golden Bears.
Oregon sophomore quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (Saint Louis '06) scored on runs of 66, 5 and 6 yards to lead the Ducks to a 55-45 win over Arizona Saturday. Masoli finished with 89 yards on 10 rushes. He also threw touchdown passes of 44 and 65 yards and finished with 298 yards on 21-of-26 passing with no interceptions.
Washington senior defensive end Daniel Te'o-Nesheim (Hawai'i Prep '04 of Waikoloa) made five tackles in a 27-7 loss to UCLA. He had 2 1/2 tackles for losses, including two sacks.
Willamette sophomore defensive back Jeff Kahler (Saint Louis '07 of Honolulu) was named Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference, the league announced yesterday. Kahler had 23 tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, two passes defended and one interception, which he took back for a 100-yard touchdown return this season.
CROSS COUNTRY
Pepperdine sophomore Chelsea Wishard (Kaua'i '07 of Lawa'i) finished 56th out of 206 runners at Saturday's NCAA West Region Championships with a 6-kilometer time of 21:24.41. She helped the Waves finish 22nd in the 30-team field with 556 points.
Davidson senior Emily King (Moanalua '05 of Honolulu) finished 157th out of 231 runners at Saturday's NCAA Southeast Region Championships with a 6K time of 23:55.6. The Wildcats placed 20th out of 33 teams with 499 points.
At Saturday's NCAA Division III New England Region Championships, Nicole Anderson ('Iolani '05 of Kailua) of Amherst (Mass.) finished 52nd out of 330 runners with a 6K time of 24:28.8. Amherst, the defending national champion, placed fifth out of 49 teams with 174 points. On Monday, Amherst received an at-large berth to compete at nationals, scheduled for this Saturday in Hanover, Ind.
At Saturday's NCAA Division III West Region Championships, Casey Nishimura (Mid-Pacific '07 of Hawai'i Kai) of Pacific (Ore.) finished 95th out of 107 runners with an 8K time of 29:04.48. Teammate Blake Picadura (Kamehameha '08 of Kailua) finished 104th in 31:14.74. The Boxers finished last in the 15-team field with 425 points.
SWIMMING & DIVING
Lindenwood (Mo.) freshman Sarah Billiamosa (Pearl City '08) won three events at Saturday's dual meet against Illinois Tech. She won the 400-yard individual medley (4 minutes, 30.74 seconds) and helped the Lions win both the 400 medley relay (4:14.29) and 400 freestyle relay (3:47.30). Freshman Jessica Lau ('Iolani '08 of Honolulu) won the 200 backstroke (2:21.76).
Pacific (Ore.) junior Wyeth Yogi (Kalani '05 of Honolulu) was on the winning 200-yard freestyle relay team in Saturday's 93-90 dual meet win over Lewis & Clark. The Boxers won in a time of 1 minute and 38.56 seconds. Yogi also placed second (5:50.91) in the 500 freestyle and fourth (25.62) in the 50 freestyle.
COMMITMENT
'Iolani senior golfer David Fink has signed a letter of intent to play at Oregon State next season, the school announced yesterday.
Advertiser Staff Writer Stanley Lee contributed to this report. Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2404.
SEND US PHOTOS
If you know of any athletes deserving recognition, give us their names, high schools and graduation years, colleges and sports. Photos are also welcome. E-mail us at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com or contact Kalani Takase at 535-2404.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
| | |
|
|
