Zama's girls rise to the top; overtimes galore; Hamano saves the Knights: What we learned on Far East Day 5.0

Posted May 22nd, 2009 by Dave Ornauer

Pacific Sportsblog

Musings and mutterings as Ornauer sadly takes his soccer stag straps off his belt until March 1:

-- What a marvelous, magical moment for Zama American girls soccer Friday at Mike Petty. A team that had relied on an offense that produced 135 goals and 90 assists this season, both school records, saw the player responsible for keeping the ball out of the net open the door to a Trojans title.

-- Deanne Polaski, a sophomore goalkeeper, made three clutch saves in the penalty-kick shootout and the Trojans survived 80-20 pressure by Kubasaki to capture their first Class AA Tournament title in school history. Zama won the shootout 3-2 and the match 2-1.

-- It also ended a 12-year drought in terms of Zama winning outright Far East team titles, since the girls volleyball team won the Far East title in 1997.

-- What a way for sisters Aubrey and Mallarie Ashliman to go out, Far East champions as they embark on a return to Virginia from whence they came. What a way for Taylor Russell to ring in her career at Zama, after transferring from Kadena last summer and considering not playing soccer at all.

-- Note that the last three Class AA Tournament finals played on Okinawa have produced two penalty-kick shootout verdicts and one "golden goal" overtime decision. Note that in Friday's matches at Kubasaki, three went to overtime.

-- What a performance by Christian Academy In Japan Knights goalkeeper Sho Hamano, who almost singlehandedly kept Hong Kong International off the Knights' backs with 12 saves in 1-0 shutout of the Dragons.

-- CAJ really enjoys those odd-numbered years -- the Knights won Class AA titles in 2005 and 2007 in addition to Friday's.

-- You couldn't tell if coach Sean Collier was the coach or one of the Knights' players, the way he was carrying on like one of his players after the final whistle.

-- You think Mitch Shibley of Kubasaki was trying to make a statement in Friday's third-place match? Try five goals as the Dragons throttled Zama American 6-0, a day after Kubasaki's desultory semifinal performance against Hong Kong, a 3-0 loss.

-- A word to those who made the coverage happen: Thanks to my associate in Seoul, Gary Cashman, and on Okinawa, Cindy Fisher; thanks to Rebekah and Thomas in Daegu; thanks to Katie, Jareena, Emie and Janel for being such good pals; thanks to Alyssa, Alicia, Brittni, Kayce, Randy, Chris, Dan, John, Sara, Sarah, Elizabeth and Alaina for the eyes and ears on Okinawa; thanks to Michael, Jessica, Coco and Joe for the eyes and ears at Yongsan; thanks to Messrs. Clausen, Lange and McKeown and Ms. Mendoza and Scoppa and school administration at Seoul American, Daegu American, Kadena and Kubasaki for making it happen.

-- Special word of thanks to Suzette at Iwakuni. I don't know how you manage it, all those classes AND being a tournament director. You are, indeed, a super woman.

Countdown resumes. 283 days.

Bow before the professor

On May 23rd, 2009 Sticky2j says:

Dave you called it!!! CAJ was predicted and are Far East champs!!! You are the man...I bow beofre your abilities.

How about those Zama girls??? That is truely awesome!!! Congratulations to Coach Pitts and his girls on a hard fought season. The Zama boys with a forth place is truly amazing also...thanks for the coverage Dave!!!!

unofficial DoDDS Pacific champs HUH?

On May 24th, 2009 Sticky2j says:

Ok Dave I have a complaint (what's new)...In the S&S article about the Far East finish in Soccer you say the Kubasaki takes the unofficial DoDDS championship. This is just silly and degrades the hard work of CAJ. It reminds me of national sports arguments of placing "*" next to teams because sport writers and disgruntled fans alike felt some how their team was robbed of a championship. Kubasaki is officially the third place team in the DODDS Pacific Far East tournament and should not be in any way considered the DoDDS champs. All the teams that participated in the tournament were equally invited and giving a chance to win the title and the title belongs in name officially to CAJ. Even though it is a nice sentiment to say that of Kubasaki placed the highest of all DoDDS schools and it might make someone feel good lets not mince words here- CAJ are the DoDDS Pacific Far East Champs. Which you predicted and again I bow before your ability to evaluate talent. Oh yeah one more thing- will we get a correction in the S&S about Zama and their Far East titles? What will we talk about now that the HS seasons are over????

Thanks for the correction!!!

On May 25th, 2009 Sticky2j says:

Awesome Dave!!! I like when you listen to the fan base....

Zama Championships

On May 23rd, 2009 slimeypebble says:

Dave,
How can we forget the Trojan volleyball teams of the early '80's. Didn't they win in '81, '88 and '97?

You're right

On May 23rd, 2009 Dave Ornauer says:

Zama volleyball in 1979, 1981, 1988 and 1997.

really?

On May 24th, 2009 keeganr says:

I hear that the other international schools in Tokyo are really good as well. I don't understand why they are not in Far East.....or for that matter in our season. Starting from St.marys, Yokohama International School, American School in Japan, we need more schools in the Boys soccer Far East.

but nevertheless, congratz to CAJ and Zama girls.

Yeah.. why do ASIJ, YIS, and

On May 24th, 2009 mustangs44 says:

Yeah.. why do ASIJ, YIS, and St. Mary's play in the winter?
I'm sure they would provide good competition :)

2 things

On May 24th, 2009 Legend in Japan says:

First thing is first, Congrats to CAJ's boys and Zama's Girls for their 2009 championships.

But i am wondering about the all far east selections. How did you give one of the Ashliman sisters all far east and not the other? They are equally as good. How did Jennifer Black not get all far east, or any other player on Yokota's girls roster? who played great defense conciving one of the lowest goal totals in the tournament, even though there offense couldnt put the ball in the net.

For your question about ASIJ, St.Marys, and YIS. St. Marys and YIS play soccer in the fall because that is there schools choice. They have no football teams and majority of the japanese schools around their area play in the fall, which is who they prefer to play. It is also just like in the US some highschools play soccer in the spring while some play in the fall. And collegiate soccer is played in the fall.

It would be great to expand the boys AA tournament. Imagine this
-The teams from this year
-The Korean league teams, in which Seoul competes against before coming to far east
-ASIJ, St. Marys, YIS

Or make one tourny because those Class A teams can compete with AA

ASIJ and St. Mary's play in

On May 25th, 2009 mustangs44 says:

ASIJ and St. Mary's play in the winter.. I'm not sure about YIS. I think they're also in the winter.
I've heard that they used to play in the spring though. It would definitely be great if everyone could play in the same season!

I agree with you about the Far East selections. I saw that only one of the Ashliman sisters was on and thought that was a bit strange.

KAIAC International AA schools

On May 25th, 2009 cebudiver says:

There are some good KAIAC international schools as well that are going to APAC ... Seoul Foreign and Taejon Christian International School

One Big Tournament!!

On May 25th, 2009 keeganr says:

Yes. I think ASIJ, St. Marys, YIS all play in the winter. So does the German School in Yokohama. But, I've heard that they got kicked out of Far East supposedly a decade ago due to some reason?
Also, one of my friend in ASIJ say that they only play Japanese school for practice games. Not league. They usually hold a Kanto Tournament at the end of their winter season which consist of 6 schools from Kanto and Kansai.

Oh Well. Hope one day Boys Soccer can have a huge tournament of all the schools together including the KAIAC schools.

Zama Girls Well Done!!

On May 28th, 2009 afsocnav says:

Great job by the team. These girls worked their tails off all season through the ups and downs of injuries and classroom challenges. Even with a new coach.

I see many of the questions about winter soccer versus playing in the spring. I think part of the reason for the change for Zama is with Football occurring in Winter thus making the field impossible to get. That was part of the reason for the move of soccer from what I understand. Unfortunately however, this same logic resulted in the Zama Varsity Soccer teams (both girls and boys) not being able to use their home field all season. Base administrators of the field on Zama decided that the field needed time to recover after the last Football season ended. Net result was the two soccer teams had to use the very small field by the elementary school (it's okay for Youth Sports but not Varsity soccer) or use the field at Atsugi NAS when they could get it.

Sad that on the year the team took the championship, they didn't really have a "home field" to play on. Seems it was best saved Football. Don't even want to get into that...

Zama Soccer

On May 28th, 2009 djpolaski says:

Were there no soccer games on the high school field? That's ridiculous...

You know better

On May 30th, 2009 Sticky2j says:

Come on you know better then to think that the powers that be at Zama would find a soccer field for the HS to play on...you are right it is ridiculous and let me add pathetic...

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