jferraro@westhawaiitoday.com
KEALAKEHE RALLIES FOR 2-1 VICTORY, REMAINS UNBEATEN
BY JOE FERRARO | WEST HAWAII TODAY
It wasn’t a playoff match.
But for a Kealakehe team that hadn’t been challenged all season, Wednesday’s contest against Hawaii Prep played a big role in making the Waveriders playoff-ready in late January.
Kari Van Mols and Lexie Cuaresma scored second-half goals for Kealakehe, which overcame its first halftime deficit of the season to beat Ka Makani 2-1 in a battle of undefeated Big Island Interscholastic Federation girls soccer teams.
The Waveriders (9-0) came into the match having outscored their opponents 46-3.
“Games like the one we played today, the quality of the match is somewhat rare during the regular season,” Kealakehe assistant coach Eric Franke said. “It’s good to have these matches to test the team.”
Senior McKenna Davidson created the go-ahead goal in the 74th minute, working her way around a defender on the right side before delivering a cross to Cuaresma, who scored from eight yards out for her fourth goal of the season.
“McKenna created both goals, and she’s been an integral part of the attack,” Franke said. “It was good to see her have a good showing against a great team like HPA.”
Kealakehe tied the match in the 48th minute, when Davidson’s corner kick found Van Mols, who headed the ball into the net for her 14th goal of the season.
“It was two breakdowns where we lost people,” HPA coach Steve Perry said of Kealakehe’s two goals. “We have to have a better sense of urgency to clear the box on set pieces.”
Ka Makani took the lead midway through the first half, when an HPA corner kick bounced out to junior midfielder Jessica Benioni, who delivered a perfect cross that freshman forward Bri Vallente knocked in for her seventh goal of the season.
Perry was happy with his team’s effort, saying his offense created a handful of other quality scoring opportunities, especially in the first half.
Two-time defending BIIF Division II champion HPA brought out the best in Kealakehe.
Franke credited defenders Caili Ebaniz and Isla Kruger-Burgess, and goalkeeper Sulley Schuster for turning in strong games in front of Kealakehe’s goal.
“(Schuster is) only in the 10th grade, but she showed a lot of maturity to stop the quality chances HPA had,” Franke said.
Franke said he saw a little more focus from his team in the days leading up to Wednesday’s match.
“I think the girls put a little more weight on this game than they would (on others),” Franke said. “It was important for them to perform well since HPA was a quality side. They showed focus and determination (earlier in the week), and that translated to the field.”
c Hilo 3, Makua Lani 0: Efficiency on set pieces propelled the Vikings (6-2-2) to victory at Hilo Bayfront.
Senior Tracee Fukunaga headed in a corner kick from sophomore Lii Maertens in the 37th minute for her second goal of the season, while freshman Savannah Toussaint hammered a shot in from 15 yards out off a corner kick by sophomore Delcee Ramos in the 79th minute for her fourth goal.
Junior Taylor Pacheco collected her third goal in the 48th minute, finishing from 6 yards out off a cross by freshman Mehana Halpern, who recorded her sixth assist of the season.
Junior goalkeeper Edwina DeGrood blanked the Lions (4-5).
c St. Joseph 4, Kohala 0: Stephanie Tait scored her second goal in as many games, while Olivia Brinkman, Alison Fuata and Georgia Pirie also found the net in the host Cardinals’ first victory of the season.
St. Joseph improved to 1-7-1, while Kohala dropped to 1-9.
c Ka’u at Honokaa: After officials at both schools postponed this match on Tuesday because of scheduling conflicts, the visiting Trojans announced a forfeiture of the contest on Wednesday.
Honokaa improved to 6-0, while Ka’u dropped to 0-9.
c Waiakea 5, Parker 1: Freshman Sabrina Scott notched a hat trick, giving her seven goals for the season as the visiting Warriors improved to 5-2-2.
Senior Teisha Nacis added her fifth and sixth goals for Waiakea.
Freshman Aolani Pieper found the net for the Bulls (1-8-1).
Boys
c Hilo 5, Makua Lani 3: Junior Justin Shiigi tallied three goals, and senior Johnathan Perez scored twice at Hilo Bayfront for the Vikings, who took a 4-1 lead before holding off a late Makua Lani charge.
Perez, who has a team-high 14 goals for Hilo (8-0), has scored in each of the Vikings’ past seven matches, while Shiigi has found the net seven times this season.
Junior Elijah Lingenfelder scored three goals for Makua Lani (6-2-1), giving him a BIIF-high 19 for the season.
c Waiakea 9, Parker 1: Senior Cameron Boucher scored four goals in Waimea, giving him a team-high 12 for the Warriors, who improved to 5-3.
Senior Nuu Aiava added his ninth and 10th goals of the season, while senior William Ebeling, sophomore Hajime Hayano and freshman Coleman Chaves each found the net once for Waiakea.
Junior Paul Gregg scored his team-high sixth goal for the Bulls (3-6).
c Ka’u at Honokaa: After officials at both schools postponed this match on Tuesday because of scheduling conflicts, the visiting Trojans announced a forfeiture of the contest on Wednesday.
Honokaa improved to 6-0, while Ka’u dropped to 0-10-1.
jferraro@westhawaiitoday.com