The American Youth Soccer Organization National Games began yesterday amid "We are proud of you!" chants, human tunnels, swapping of state pins, painted vans and team signs.

For some teams, their games ended in victory. Almost all ended with the exchange of gifts.

The Azaleas, an under-12 girls team from South Gate, Calif., got both. They defeated Na Poki'i of Honolulu, 9-0, yesterday morning, behind four goals from midfielder Alondra Becerra, who was wearing a candy lei from Na Poki'i after the game.

"It was fun," Becerra said. "I didn't expect that much goals."

The AYSO National Games features 181 teams from 17 states, including Florida, Michigan, New York, Virginia, Connecticut, Kansas, Illinois, Alabama and Arizona. Games continue today through Sunday's championships at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Park.

The Azaleas scored in the eighth minute on a goal by Jennifer Sabaiz. Then Becerra scored in the 12th and 14th minutes, the first on an unreachable shot just under the crossbar.

"That was my favorite because I was lying down and I kicked it up," Becerra said.

Her second goal, off a pass from Denise Gonzalez, was shot from the left side of the 18-yard box.

Adriana Calva added a goal in the 18th minute off a cross from the right side. Calva, who was running toward the left, far post, shot into the open goal.

Becerra scored again in the 20th minute when the ball bounced in and out of the goalkeeper's hands to Becerra, who put it away.

Calva scored just before the end of the first half on a left-footed blast to make it 6-0.

To start the second half, Sabaiz scored again after stealing the ball from a Na Poki'i defender and shooting from the right side of the 6-yard box.

Becerra scored her final goal on a pass from Calva in the 30th minute, and Gonzalez closed out the scoring in the 44th minute on an assist from Becerra.

The Azaleas earned the maximum 10 points: six for a win, one for a shutout and three for goal differential. The top two teams from each of the four six-team pools advance to tomorrow's quarterfinals.

"I'm happy, because we came so far and I hoped to win," Azaleas coach Rosenda Dominguez said.

Each team played two games yesterday — one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Calva said her favorite part of the tournament was "getting to compete against other states."

Azalea defender Jasmin Becerra played in the goal for the final quarter because the team's usual goalkeeper wanted to play on the field with the lead so large.

"I could have fun and not worry about winning," Jasmin Becerra said. "It's cool because you get to meet people from other states."

Na Poki'i defender Keikilani Adversalo-Clarke exemplified the spirit of AYSO, when she maintained a smile throughout the game, even with her team down by such a large margin.

"It just felt good that I was playing and I was able to challenge teams from other states," said Adversalo-Clarke, who grinned sheepishly after one play at the end of the game when her attempted clear glanced off the goalpost and out of bounds.

"It felt good to play, and I actually think I played my best."