Kahuku's Natasha Kai raised the bar for Hawai'i soccer, becoming the first female from the state to be named to the roster of the U.S. Women's National team.

"I'm still kind of tripping out," the forward said in a phone call yesterday from Los Angeles. "To have the opportunity to play with Olympians, it's crazy. I still can't believe it. I'm from Hawai'i. It's just cool."

National coach Greg Ryan announced after yesterday's final practice of the U.S. National Team camp that she was on the travel roster for the prestigious Algarve Cup in Portugal from March 9 to 15

"I came in here thinking 'I can't let Hawai'i down and let myself down,' " Kai said. "I just left everything on the field. After practice I would come back and say 'I need to work on this or that.' I felt I did really good. There were some days I was off. I was trying to be perfect, and no one is perfect. I just really wanted to do good."

Kai knew Friday that she would make the team for next month's tournament after an individual meeting with Ryan.

"He asked me how I thought I did," Kai said. "I thought I did pretty good. He said I did pretty good. He told me I have things to work on, but I have natural talent. They see something in me that will benefit the team and the country."

Kai, a three-time Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year for the University of Hawai'i, was a member of the U.S. Under-21 National Team in 2004 and early 2005. She was its leading scorer in 2004 with 12 goals, but was injured in 2005.

"It's crazy (going) from U-21s to the full team, it's a whole new ball game," she said. "The atmosphere, and chemistry, I had to prove myself all over again."

Kai was the only newcomer at the training camp at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., which ran from Feb. 6 through yesterday. Invitees form a pool that coaches can choose from to field teams for events such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics and next year's Women's World Cup. Kai's invitation to train with the team was also a first for Hawai'i.

"To be the only rookie, there was already that bond on the team," Kai said. "You need to prove yourself, that you're mentally and physically there; that you want to be there. I just had to step back and listen to what they had to say. I was just quiet and did my thing and finally they slowly accepted me when I showed them what I could do."

It took her a while to adjust to playing with, and against, stars such as Kristine Lilly and Abby Wambach.

"When I step on the field I see them and I see their faces, and I'm like, 'Oh my (gosh),' " Kai said. "Once the whistle blows, I just see them as soccer players. Right now, I feel really comfortable playing with them. I worked well up top with Abby and Lilly."

In a scrimmage Thursday, she played with the first team. In another scrimmage Saturday, she played with the second team and scored a goal.

Kai will move to California for a residency camp with the team from April through September.

"My dreams are slowly coming true, one step at a time," she said. "I want to do good, to benefit this team and represent Hawai'i.

"I feel kids from Hawai'i have a good chance, now that I made it here. The door is open wider for coaches to look at Hawai'i players and find the talent that is there."

NOTE

Kai wasn't the only national team player from Hawai'i with good news to report yesterday. Men's national team forward Brian Ching, of Hale'iwa, scored a goal in a 4-0 win over Guatemala yesterday at Frisco, Texas. Ching took a pass from Chris Klein off his chest and trapped it with his foot before putting the ball into the left corner of the goal to give the United States a 2-0 lead.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.