Local 14-and-under girls soccer team AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) Region 941, based in Kauai’s East side, competed in the Volcano Tournament in Hilo earlier this month.
The team — comprised of nine players from Kauai, one from Oahu and three from the Big Island — won gold in Hilo after just winning gold at the Kirk Banks Tournament on Oahu in April.
“It’s in Hilo every year in July. AYSO teams and club teams are invited,” said coach Marnie Crawford. “In the championship game, we actually played against a JV high school (team). They were a club.”
The local AYSO team, calling itself “Team Nalu,” defeated Hilo High School’s junior varsity team in the final match, 5-3.
“Our team uniform was blue, and nalu means ‘wave,’” Crawford said.
Earlier in the tournament, Team Nalu beat Hilo’s JV squad during pool play, 3-1. The team went 4-0 throughout tournament play.
Crawford said the team scored 15 goals while allowing just five.
“It’s a really sweet team. They play their own (way),” Crawford said. “Some of the teams we played against were a little more aggressive, kind of dirty and talked smack. But the girls, they held together and they played their own game.”
Despite an early 2-0 advantage, the teams went into halftime tied, 2-2.
In the second half, the Kauai team went up 4-2 before Hilo scored once more in the late stages.
With a 4-3 lead, Team Nalu scored again with about three minutes left. That lead held until the final whistle.
Crawford added from the tournament, the team won a sportsmanship award.
“AYSO, they score teams by sportsmanship points. They judge not just the players, but they also judge the coaches and the spectators,” she said. “I haven’t told the team yet. We have our team party on Friday, and I’ll give out their medals and prizes. … I’m really happy. We just got the best team and the best parents.”
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
