Beijing, China ? Former University of Hawai?i stand-out forward and three-time WAC soccer Player of the Year, Natasha Kai, will add yet another accolade to her trophy case, an Olympic gold medal.
After the U.S. women’s soccer team defeated Brazil, 1-0, in the gold-medal match that went into extra time on Thursday, Kai became just one of four former WAC athletes to win gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
The former Rainbow Wahine has her named etched in the WAC record books as one of the most dominant forwards the conference has seen. Kai was named first team all-WAC all four years she competed, 2002-2005. In 2003, she led the WAC in goals with 29 on her way to become the second-leading goal scorer in WAC history, with 72 goals. The Hawaii native also holds the conference record for goals in a game, five in a 2003 match.
Kai played an instrumental role for the United States when she scored the game-winning goal in a quarterfinal match against Canada in the 101st minute. She played in all six of the United States’ matches, starting in one.