LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i soccer player Chloe Ayonon was key to victories earned by a Hawai‘i team when they participated in two tournaments contested on the mainland earlier this summer.
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i soccer player Chloe Ayonon was key to victories earned by a Hawai‘i team when they participated in two tournaments contested on the mainland earlier this summer.
“Kaua‘i’s own soccer standout, 13-year-old Chloe Ayonon, along with three other outer-island players from the Maui Rush and the Big Island Rush teams, played with the O‘ahu Hawai‘i Rush 2008 girls team as a key defender, and assisted on goals as well,” said Agnes Marti-Kini, Ayonon’s grandmother and a retired Kaua‘i soccer official.
Following four days of intense contests at the U.S. Club National Youth Tournament in Denver, the team, officially known as the Hawai‘i State Girls Youth Champions, 13 Under 2008G Super Division Rush Team, finished by playing on the fifth day against a team from Boston during the finals.
“A well-fought battle of East Coast versus West Coach took place, in which the Hawai‘i Rush girls lost by one goal to take home second-place national medals,” Marti-Kini said. “A tremendous mahalo to the Hawai‘i coaches Tony Makue, Nate Meyer, James Suster and Tiffany Makue for their dedication and inspiration. The girls were incredibly skilled and composed under extreme pressure, and are determined to win the next year’s national club final.”
Marti-Kini said this is the same team that had stopped off in San Diego, where they participated in the California Surf Cup Tournament.
“These Rush girls traveled to the prestigious Best of the Best tournament and ultimately claimed the first-place championship title along with the Hawai‘i Rush Boys Super Black 14 Under Division that also claimed first place,” Marti-Kini said.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
