Seoul American senior midfielder HoKyung Adams, left, shown playing against John Gong of Yongsan International-Seoul, is one of five veterans populating what Falcons coach Steve Boyd calls a "powerful" midfield, including Jason Lee, Ben Mitchell, Andrew Clark and Allen Choi. (CJ Mitchell/Special to Stars and Stripes)
They’ve won their first seven matches quite handily, but mostly against Division II-equivalent Western Japan Athletic Association opponents.
Now comes what coach Suzette Lopez calls the “first big test” for Matthew C. Perry girls soccer team against a DODDS Japan Division I foe: Yokota, which comes calling on the Samurai this weekend.
“My fingers are crossed,” Lopez said. “The girls are psyched. They’re a little nervous, but I think they’re excited.”
They have reason to be, after the best start in school history. And where the goal ledger is concerned, youth is definitely being served.
There’s Bobbi Hill, a freshman whose older brother starred, with 10 goals and five assists in the young season. Ani Erhart, a 6-foot sophomore, has chipped in with seven goals and veterans Dina Roman and Sasha Shibazaki have a combined seven.
But it’s how they’re scoring and playing that has Lopez pleased.
“We’re working a lot more on moving the ball around quickly,” she said, adding that in years past, the Samurai would use the outside lanes before pushing the ball to the center. Now, there are a lot more one-touches and other quick changes in direction.
“We’ve been able to have better control of the ball,” Lopez said. “If they can’t make the one-touch, we want the girls to have a couple of moves up their sleeves to get open and be available for the ball.”
A solid veteran core has been at the center of another team that’s started strong, Seoul American’s boys, who won their first two matches but put that record on the line Friday at their league arch-rival Seoul Foreign, which has also started strong at 7-0.
Because the Crusaders, who have three players with six or more goals, have had more pitch time, Falcons coach Steve Boyd feels that they would have the upper hand. “We’ll see what we can do and let the chips fall where they may,” he said. “It’s a big rivalry.”
HoKyung Adkins, one of several seniors who’ve helped the Falcons start strongly, is “by far the best player on the pitch,” Boyd said. “He has the jets, the knowledge and the skills.”
Adkins is also part of a midfield group laden in veterans like Andrew Clark, Jason Lee, Allen Choi and Ben Mitchell. “That’s pretty powerful,” Boyd said.
On Saturday, Okinawa becomes the second district to open track season, and coach Jon Fick of reigning Far East Division I champion Kubasaki says his team is anxious to get going after three weeks of practice.
“And to compete; that’s why we’re here,” Fick said. “It’s a new year. You’re seeing athletes in their events and see which young kids and new kids step up and see where they fit.”
It’s a Dragons team looking to shore up a roster ripped by graduations and transfers, especially in the distance ranks. Fick is hoping youngsters such as sophomores Jonathan Johnson and Johan Wright and veterans Rahman Farnell and Tristan McElroy can make up the shortfall.
“We’re looking for some of the younger kids to step up. It will be interesting to see how they do,” Fick said.
ornauer.dave@stripes.com
