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Levi Miyabuchi

Moanalua soccer  •   #11  F  Senior

It did not take very long for Levi Miyabuchi to make an impression on his new coach. 

In fact, Moanalua first-year coach Lance Thompson can recall pretty specifically how little time it took for Miyabuchi to stand out in a number of ways. 

"Twenty minutes," laughed Thompson, who coached at the collegiate level for more than 20 years, including a three-year stint as both the men's and women's coach and director of soccer at UH-Hilo.

Miyabuchi's work ethic stood out right away in the eyes of Thompson. 

"You could tell he was very attentive. Even during the tryout phase he was first in everything we did and he was also really encouraging the guys to keep going — he's an encourager — and he really was building their confidence and was also servant-like; He was the first guy to grab the soccer balls and the cones, so he displayed it with his actions, which is commendable and his peers see that and it's easy for them to put their best foot forward when your leader is constantly doing that," Thompson described. 

Not only does Thompson have an extensive collegiate coaching resume, he also served as head coach for the Turks and Caicos national team. Thompson, who has worked with a multitude of skilled soccer players over his career, described the type of skillset that Miyabuchi possesses. 

"He's definitely a blue-collar player. He works really hard for us and he's got what I call an ‘educated left foot' and it's very special. He's very technical, very skilled and he's been very adaptable for us and open-minded to it," Thompson said. 

Miyabuchi spent his first two seasons on Na Menehune varsity as a midfielder, but was approached by Thompson prior to the season about a position change. 

"We have him in a role that's a little different than what he's used to doing, but we felt it was best for the team. He's more of a center-mid, but I felt as though he would best suit us being closer to the goal and that paid off last week, that's for sure," Thompson said. 

From his striker position, Miyabuchi recorded a hat trick as part of a 7-1 win over Farrington last Tuesday. He followed that up with two more goals Saturday night in a 3-1 win over previously-undefeated Castle. 

"What's interesting about that is all his goals came in the second half of both of those games and so I think that's a testament to his determination, to his work rate, his fitness and his competitiveness. He's a relentless competitor and that sets the tone for the rest of us," Thompson remarked. 

Moanalua opened the regular season with a scoreless tie at Kahuku on Dec. 9. It then was on the wrong end of a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Kailua four days later. Needless to say, the result against the Governors was a most-welcomed one. 

"We bounced back with that Farrington but, but we really needed kind of a signature win to get our stamp of approval on so that we could gain some momentum," Thompson added. 

The Knights, despite the fact that they are designated a Division-II team this season, won their first three matches — all by shut out, including a 1-0 win over powerhouse Kalani last Wednesday. 

"That was a really big match and we knew we were gonna need Levi for eighty minutes and he really delivered late in the game with two really tremendous goals," Thompson said. 

Moanalua held a 1-0 lead at halftime thanks to an Ayden Snyder goal set-up by a corner kick. However, Castle equalized in the early parts of the second half before Miyabuchi put his team back ahead for good with at about the 65-minute mark. 

"We were able to spring him, he drifted out wide and got the ball out wide behind the outside backs and dribbled toward the end line and with not much of an angle to shoot and not much of a passing option, he decided to let that ‘educated left foot' go to work and he hit a screamer in the back of the net from a very difficult angle, which ended up being the game-winner for us and just seeing the team celebrate that moment with him, it felt like we all scored the goal and that's a testament to his leadership and the relationships that he's created with all the other guys on the team," Thompson said. 

Not long after that, Miyabuchi netted his second goal of the match for some added insurance. 

"That one was a free kick from maybe twenty-five yards out or so and he really laced it into the back of the net to seal the deal. He's scored in every way possible for us; He's gotten a rebound off a corner kick or a restart, he's scored in the run of play, he's scored directly off of a restart. He's just a craft player who has a nose for the goal, he really does and that's never been his role before — maybe it wasn't needed in the past — but we definitely need him now to do that and he's doing it. He's up against taller center-backs and he's a smaller-framed athlete and isn't necessarily blessed with great height, but his determination and his relentless competitive spirit, I think makes up the difference," Thompson expressed. 

Thompson said Miyabuchi's move from the midfield to forward was one necessitated by need. 

"It seemed to be a no-brainers to me how we wanted to play the game, which was a bit different than what they did in the past — not better, not worse, just different — and he and I had some conversations about it, what it would look like, whether he would be able to do this, or do that and he clearly has been able to do that. He's deadly on corner kicks and free kicks and restarts. He's pretty shifty, pretty quick, he's able to draw some fouls and that then gives us an opportunity, but his willingness to adapt and to be open to new ideas with his blue-collar work ethic — the rest of the team sees him as a leader and when they see him do it, they're gonna do it as well," Thompson said. 

Thompson, to be sure, is grateful for the leadership that Miyabuchi has provided for the rest of the team, which has made the transition to a new coaching staff a smooth one. 

"It's hard as a new coach to come in with new ideas, maybe a different methodology than they're used to and in order for that to happen, you really need the support of the leaders on the team and I think he — along with our other leaders, Gage Tani and Luke Green — are a big part of the reason why we've got the buy-in and support from the rest of their peers, which gives us the best ability to be the best version of ourselves. The coaches set the standard, but the athletes apply the standard," Thompson said. 

It's not just on the pitch where Miyabuchi gets the job done; He also plays the viola and is a vice president for his school's concert orchestra and holds a grade point average of 3.7. 

"He's a role model student-athlete is the phrase I would use for him. He's a high-character student-athlete and he's got a great head on his shoulders," Thompson said. 

Miyabuchi and Na Menehune (2-1-1) will host Kalani Wednesday night in Salt Lake before they take on Roosevelt Saturday night. 

BOYS SOCCER

Ammon Akinaka, Kahuku — Scored two goals in a win over McKinley 

Zekiel Balmoja, Waialua — Scored two goals and assisted on three others in a win over Waianae 

Thompson Cheever, Punahou — Scored three goals in a win over Damien 

Maceo Cohen, Waialua — Scored three goals and assisted on another in a win over Leilehua 

William Henderson, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored the lone goal in a win over Hilo 

Landen Kalani, Roosevelt — Scored two goals in a win over Farrington 

Shane Kelly, Waialua — Scored three goals and assisted on two others in a win over Waianae 

Rider MacMillan, Castle — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kalani 

Manoa Joao Monteiro, Pearl City — Scored three goals in a win over Waipahu 

Aziah Nelson, Waiakea — Scored five goals in a win over Konawaena 

Thomas Pak Jr., Aiea — Scored two goals in a win over Kapolei 

Sye Sandobal, Aiea — Scored four goals in a win over Nanakuli 

Keoki Stephens, Aiea — Scored four goals in a win over Nanakuli 

Matthew Tingey, Roosevelt — Scored two goals and assisted on another in a win over Farrington 

Tyler Welsch, Campbell — Scored three goals in a win over Waipahu 

Noah Vaiaoga, Kahuku — Scored two goals in a win over Kaimuki 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Tiki Akina-Watson, Kahuku — Scored 19 points in a loss to Campbell 

Trey Ambrozich, University Lab — Scored 24 points in a win over Kalaheo 

Jayvie Arellano, Waialua — Scored 17 points in a loss to Aiea 

Jordan Babcock, Kekaulike — Scored 28 points in a loss to Lahainaluna 

Darius Chizer, Mid-Pacific — Scored 21 points in a win over Moanalua 

Levi Damo-Agcaoili, Damien — Scored 19 points in a loss to Kalaheo 

Jacques Djurberg, Lahainaluna — Scored 24 points in a loss to Baldwin 

Zion Donnell, Nanakuli — Scored 20 points in a win over Waipahu 

Roman Gabriel, Mililani — Scored 24 points in a win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Manny Garcia, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 23 points in a win over Island Pacific 

Jayden Hook, Kohala — Scored 21 points in a win over Pahoa 

Kawohi Huihui, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 18 points in a win over Kau and scored 17 points in a win over Waiakea 

Tyson Kuala-Faafia, Kau — Scored 20 points in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Dylan Kuia, Baldwin — Scored 21 points in a win over Lahainaluna 

Koa Laboy, University Lab — Scored 17 points in a win over Kaiser 

Mana Lau Kong, Iolani — Scored 21 points in a win over Kauai 

Daysen Lupica, Kaimuki — Scored 24 points in a win over Kauai and scored 17 points in a win over Kaiser 

Hunter Marumoto, Maryknoll — Scored 20 points in a win over Leilehua and scored 18 points in a win over Kalaheo 

Logan Mason, Mid-Pacific — Scored 19 points in a win over Kauai and scored 25 points in a win over Kaimuki 

Zion Milare, Maryknoll — Scored 17 points in a win over Kaiser and scored 15 points in a win over University Lab 

Taylor Moku, Aiea — Scored 19 points in a win over Waialua 

Vince Obreros, McKinley — Scored 26 points in a win over Castle 

Sebastian Peterson, Seabury Hall — Scored 22 points in a win over Hana 

Joshua Rego, Kauai — Scored 21 points in a loss to Kaimuki and scored 15 points in a loss to Kamehameha 

Pupu Sepulona, Saint Louis — Scored 24 points in a loss to St. John Bosco, scored 16 points in a win over Kamehameha-Maui and scored 21 points in a win over Moanalua 

Luke Tobin, Iolani — Scored 18 points in a loss to Masters Academy 

Jeremiah White, Kaimuki — Scored 20 points in a loss to Masters Academy, scored 22 points in a win over Kauai, scored 20 points in a loss to Mid-Pacific and scored 23 points in a win over Kaiser

Twain Wilson, Leilehua — Scored 21 points in a win over Kapolei 

Kiai Yasso, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 18 points in a win over Kau

Carly Cormack

Punahou soccer  •   #9    Senior

Carly Cormack has collected her share of accolades in her soccer career, but the Punahou midfielder is not one to rest on her laurels. 

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. 

After earning All-Hawaii Offensive Player of the Year honors and leading the Buffanblu to their first state championship in a dozen years, Cormack has upped her production even more this season. The 5-foot-3 senior has scored eight goals on the year — which leads all Interscholastic League of Honolulu players — including five goals in two games last week. 

But it's not just the goals that Carmack has scored; She's also registered six assists through her team's first five games in ILH play. 

"One of her goals coming into the year was to increase her assists, so she's not looking just for herself, but also how she's able to help her teammates succeed," Punahou coach Shelley Izuno said. 

The Buffanblu have scored 34 goals and allowed only one so far. Eleven different players have tallied at least one goal. 

"The thing about Carly is she understands the game and she understands that it takes the entire team to be successful. Maybe she could do all the work, or try to shoot all the goals, but that's definitely not her and it's showing across the board between all our goal scorers — I mean, we have defenders that are scoring. Our goals are pretty spread out and a lot of it contributes to her. Carly's bringing the whole team with her and our offense is finding the back of the net, spreading the love through the entire team and so it's been fun to watch everybody play," Izuno said. 

The opening match to the ILH season — a 3-0 win at Iolani — was the lone match that Cormack failed to score a goal. Since then, however, she has been on a tear. She netted two goals in a 6-0 win over PAC-5 then scored one goal and assisted on another in an 8-0 win over Mid-Pacific three days later.

"She maybe didn't have as many opportunities in that Iolani game, but she's still part of the engine that's bringing everybody else and she's the type of person that doesn't say, ‘You need to do this,' or ‘Meet me here.' She's saying, ‘Let's do it. Let's do this together.' A good leader brings people up with them and that's her," Izuno described. "She could be on the bench and her role is just the effect she has on the other three captains — who are very strong also — and her ability to influence the rest of the team is huge."

Cormack did not let up last week in wins over Damien and Punahou II. She scored a hat trick and also assisted on three other goals in a 9-0 rout of the Monarchs last Tuesday. In an 8-1 win over the Buffanblu's B-squad Friday afternoon, Cormack notched two goals and two assists. 

"You have players that maybe see the play, see it develop, but they can't execute and then you have players who maybe can't see the play develop but can execute. Carly sees it as it happens and she executes it. She's seeing the play and executes it and now the rest of the team is seeing the play and they're on the other end of the ball, so she seems an opportunity and creates it and then you have the rest of the team that is finishing," Izuno said. 

Izuno noted that in the past, Cormack might have deferred some of those opportunities to other teammates. Her decision-making this season, however, has been a big part of the increase in goal production for the Buffanblu. 

"I think part of her development throughout the year has been knowing when she has the opportunity to finish and when another person has the better opportunity to finish. She's had opportunities that maybe she put forth to others and that's part of being a younger player on a team and looking up to other upperclassmen, but now she's a senior and she understands when she has the opportunities and she takes them. Also, when she's able to find those opportunities for teammates, she's able to find them and they're able to execute also, which is why our scores are so high," Izuno described. 

Cormack earned All-ILH First Team recognition as both a sophomore and a junior. She is also a two-time All-Hawaii First Team selection and is the reigning Gatorade State Player of the Year. She has been a part of the U.S. Youth Soccer's Olympic Development Program and participated in elite-level training camps across the country. 

"She's fun to watch. She's an engine on team and and is also a playmaker, but she puts as much effort into attacking as she does defending," Izuno said of the central midfielder. "She's hungry not only to score, but to find opportunities for her teammates and she just executes really well, but I think the biggest thing is her leadership. She'll out-work everybody and she can be a little bit off, but she doesn't get down on herself. She'll continue to give her hundred percent effort until the whistle blows."

Izuno said that Cormack previously ran cross country and is contemplating going out for the track and field team in the spring. The second-year team captain signed her National Letter of Intent last month to play collegiate soccer for the University of Oregon. 

"She also has a morning job at (Punahou), I believe, and she does a lot of volunteer work with her soccer club, so she stays pretty busy and she's quite a well-rounded individual," Izuno said. "She's super humble for someone who's had so much success in the past and she understands that she has to earn it every day."

Cormack's sweat equity has been paying off for her and the Buffanblu so far this winter. 

"She's physically in better shape than last year, too. She's stronger, more balanced, she's fit, she takes care of her body, she eats well. Between last year as a junior and as a senior this year, physically you can see the difference in terms of her strength and she's pushing herself and she's not outcome-based. It's really about how does she push herself every day and then how does she help her team become better and that's part of what makes her special," Izuno said. 

To be sure, the Buffanblu are not short on talent beyond Cormack. In fact, five of her teammates also inked their futures at last month's NLI signing day ceremony at the Princess Kaiulani Hotel. Laulea Ah Mook Sang (Hawaii), Nicole Beauchemin (Cal Poly Humboldt), Anuhea Ilae (Embry-Riddle), Lauren Matsubara (Embry-Riddle) and Ally Yoshimura (Utah State) signed alongside Cormack that day. 

"Carly's been a leader to not only the team, but to our other captains and our other leaders, too," Izuno said. 

Just prior to the start of the ILH season, Izuno took her squad on a preseason trip to southern California, where they took part in a top-tier tournament. She was also pleased with her team's effort in a standalone game against powerhouse Harvard Westlake. 

"We (departed from Honolulu) after a full day of school on a red-eye (flight), had them out all day cramped into vans and they came out and played a phenomenal game, which was really cool to watch because at that point it was just, ‘Go out there and play,' and they did well all tournament," said Izuno, whose team registered a win over the No. 19th-ranked team in the country. 

Cormack and the Buffanblu (5-0), who are No. 1 in this week's ScoringLive Power Rankings, return to ILH play on Jan. 4, when they host Mid-Pacific at 4:15 p.m. at Alexander Field. 

GIRLS SOCCER

Kaia Borje-Peeples, Aiea — Scored three goals in a win over Nanakuli 

Alivia Breeden, Roosevelt — Scored two goals in a win over Farrington 

Ryah Echavaria, Moanalua — Scored four goals in a win over Farrington

Gabriella Ferrante, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Pearl City 

Aulani Franklin, Waiakea — Scored three goals in a win over Kealakehe 

Atianna Tauiai Fuamatu-Maafala, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Leilehua 

Maelis Gbedemah, Leilehua — Scored three goals in a win over Waialua 

Lana Mahi-Murray, Waiakea — Scored three goals in a win over Konawaena and scored four goals in a win over Kealakehe 

Madelyn Maningas, Kalaheo — Scored two goals in a win over Kalani 

Iris Miguel, Waialua — Scored two goals in a win over Waianae 

Alexyz Nakamoto, Leilehua — Scored four goals in a win over Waialua 

Kaiulani Nishigaya, Kalani — Scored five goals in a win over Farrington 

Brooke Perreira, Kaiser — Scored three goals in a win over Kailua 

Tazsialee Sakamoto, Waipahu — Scored the lone goal in a win over Pearl City 

Kilinahe Schenk, Kalaheo — Scored three goals in a win over McKinley 

Miyah Suster, Campbell — Scored three goals in a win over Nanakuli 

Krislyn Uyeda, Moanalua — Scored two goals in a win over Castle 

Kalena Yamashita, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Leilehua 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Shynastee Ahina, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 29 points in a win over St. Andrew's and scored 24 points in a win over La Pietra 

Pihaeu Akiona, Hanalani — Scored 15 points in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Aliyah Bantolina, Campbell — Scored 23 points in a win over Leilehua 

Gabby Bowles, St. Andrew's — Scored 28 points in a win over Island Pacific 

Kaila Chun, Castle — Scored 23 points in a win over Kaimuki 

Cristazia Joy Cristobal, Damien — Scored 18 points in a win over Sacred Hearts 

Juseana Rae Delatori, Lahainaluna — Scored 19 points in a win over Baldwin and scored 37 points in a win over Kekaulike 

Lola Donez, Lahainaluna — Scored 26 points in a win over Baldwin and scored 23 points in a win over Kekaulike 

Aubree Gonzales, Baldwin — Scored 16 points in a loss to Kamehameha-Maui 

Amelia Heimuli, Waipahu — Scored 19 points in a loss to Nanakuli 

Puaena Harrington, Waiakea — Scored 20 points in a win over Honokaa 

Kiani Hoolulu, Kailua — Scored 25 points in a win over McKinley 

Maela Honma, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 26 points in a win over Kohala 

Keanu Huihui, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 24 points in a win over Kohala 

Justice Kekauoha, Iolani — Scored 19 points in a win over Punahou 

Brooke Kurasaki, Mililani — Scored 15 points in a win over Waipahu 

Olivia Malafu, Kapaa — Scored 26 points in a win over Kauai 

Jolie Mantz, Waiakea — Scored 22 points in a win over Honokaa 

Hailey Mata, Waimea — Scored 15 points in a loss to Kapaa and scored 28 points in a win over Kauai 

Taysia Molina-Schulte, Campbell — Scored 16 points in a win over Leilehua and scored 20 points in a win over Radford 

Maesha Muaau, Nanakuli — Scored 17 points in a win over Aiea 

Leila Paraoan, Kapolei — Scored 23 points in a win over Aiea and scored 21 points in a win over Waialua 

Hailey Perez, Maryknoll — Scored 16 points in a loss to Notre Dame 

Kailey Reverio, McKinley — Scored 17 points in a loss to Kailua 

Kawelo Roback, Hana — Scored 17 points in a win over Hana 

Taira Samiano, Kapaa — Scored 18 points in a win over Kauai 

Jaynalyn Sotelo, Campbell — Scored 20 points in a win over Leilehua 

Lilyanah-Tiare Tamale, Kapolei — Scored 19 points in a win over Aiea and scored 16 points in a win over Waialua 

Rylee Velasquez, Honokaa — Scored 22 points in a loss to Waiakea 

Kenna Wengler, Damien — Scored 15 points in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Sara Williams, Roosevelt — Scored 15 points in a win over Kalani 

Posia Wily, Kahuku — Scored 16 points in a win over McKinley 

Tailele Wily-Ava, Kahuku — Scored 24 points in a win over McKinley