WAIPAHU, Oahu - The Maui United Soccer Club 96 boys posted a 4-0 record and outscored their opponents 15-1 to capture the under-16 title in the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association's state championships over Memorial Day weekend at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.
MUSC 96 opened with victories of 3-0 over the Kula (Oahu) Sharks and 5-0 over MUSC 97 on Saturday. On Monday, MUSC 96 completed its title run with a 5-0 win over the Maui Strikers and 2-1 victory over Rush Nike 97.
It marked the third state-level tournament crown in four years for MUSC 96 and the 23rd overall for the club, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Nick Lawrence, Jaren Otani and KJ Ahlo shared the scoring lead with four goals each.
Other starters for MUSC 96 were goalkeeper Carin Yamamoto; defenders Matthew Foronda, Blake Hooser and Tony Conners; and midfielders Daniel Quenga, A.J. Owan, Rhys Lendio and Alexis Gomez. Other members of the team were Avi Singh, Daniel Claudell, Mitchell Marrs, Ryan Feliciano and Kawelo Wong. The coaches were Fred Guzman, Alex Garcia-Gonzalez and Kane Palazzotto.
The Maui United 93 girls reached the under-19 final, losing 5-1 to Leahi 95, which reached the finals of the Far West Regional last summer.
Other teams from the Valley Isle entered in the competition were the MUSC 95 girls, 97 boys and 99 White boys; Pookela's under-15 girls and under-11 boys; the Maui Strikers under-16 boys; and the Manuia girls.
