KEALAKEHE, HILO PLAY TO 1-1 TIE ADVERTISING BY JOE FERRARO | WEST HAWAII TODAY Hilo’s Mikah Hatcher had never played goalkeeper in a high school soccer match, and his opponent in his first game in net in six years was
KEALAKEHE, HILO PLAY TO 1-1 TIE
BY JOE FERRARO | WEST HAWAII TODAY
Hilo’s Mikah Hatcher had never played goalkeeper in a high school soccer match, and his opponent in his first game in net in six years was no pushover: perennial Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I power Kealakehe.
Much to the Vikings’ delight, Hatcher played like a veteran, making five saves and leaning on strong anticipation skills to thwart a handful of other Waverider scoring chances when the undefeated teams played to a 1-1 tie Saturday at Waverider Stadium.
“He saved the game for us,” Hilo assistant coach Ed Torrison said.
Hatcher hadn’t played at goalkeeper since competing for an AYSO summer club team in 2005. Torrison said Hatcher drew the assignment because the team’s starting goalkeeper, senior Johann Kuipers, ruptured a vein in his thumb while making a save in practice.
“At first, I was a teensy bit nervous because since it was the first game coming back, but once I got into it I got used to it, and I played with confidence,” Hatcher said.
Vikings senior John Perez headed in his 15th goal of the season in the second minute, and Kealakehe senior Cory Fisher headed in a 35-yard free kick by sophomore midfielder Keoni Yates for his seventh goal in the fifth minute.
The Waveriders (6-0-1) won the possession battle thereafter, operating on Hilo’s side of the field for much of the match, and they outshot the Vikings (8-0-1) 12-4.
“They were just relentless,” Torrison said.
On four occasions, Kealakehe’s forwards ran onto what seemed to be nicely delivered throughballs from the midfield. However, Hatcher anticipated the tactics well, coming out of the net to intercept the throughballs before charging Waveriders could get there.
Kealakehe coach Urs Leuenberger said his team could have varied its attack against the Vikings a little more by taking shots from different distances and angles.
“We’re still a project when it comes to scoring,” Leuenberger said.
Kealakehe had a golden chance to take the lead in the 72nd minute, when senior Tyler Yates took a cross from freshman Marc Takahashi near the right post. Yates’ shot hit the inside of the left post and bounced out.
“Their goalkeeper was very good,” Leuenberger said. “I think they deserved the tie because of his effort.”
Hatcher credited his teammates on the Vikings’ back line — seniors Max Darris and Steven Grosskreutz, and juniors Adryan Vidad and Dane Miyata — for playing well in front of him.
Senior Deja-Dean Ruiz-Spinney, and juniors Jason Kuwada and Logan Whitney played just as well for Kealakehe in front of senior goalkeeper Kawela Benson.
Torrison may have summed up how both teams felt at the end of the day.
“We’re satisfied, but we’re not happy,” he said.
— Honokaa 3, Kamehameha-Hawaii 0: Seniors Chayce Moniz and Robert Connors, and junior Pedro Sanches all scored first-half goals for the defending Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II state champion Dragons, who jumped to the top of the BIIF Division II standings with their home victory.
Honokaa (7-0), which has outscored its BIIF opponents 33-1 this season, did not allow a shot on goal to the Warriors (4-6-1).
Senior Maikai Coelho and sophomore Elzer Maltezo combined to blank Kamehameha in goal.
— Hawaii Prep 8, Ka’u 1: Junior Kepa Police had a hat trick, giving him nine goals on the season, while junior Martynas Golubovskis added his 10th and 11th goals for host Ka Makani, which improved to 4-3.
Senior Kawika Wise also notched two goals, while junior Hiroki Kawakami scored for the second time in as many matches.
Jemy-Ray Palancia found the net for the Trojans (0-11-1).
— Waiakea 9, Kohala 0: Senior James Yamane scored three goals in Kapaau, giving him six for the season, and senior Cameron Boucher tallied his team-high 13th goal for the visiting Warriors (6-3).
Seniors William Ebeling and Dustin Figueira, sophomore Hajime Hayano, and freshmen Tyler Kerr and Dyson Sato each scored once for Waiakea.
Senior R.J. Iyo and freshman Chris Wung combined to shut out Kohala (2-8) in goal.
— Konawaena 8, HAAS 0: The host Wildcats improved to 5-4-2, while Na Naia dropped to 0-6-1.
No further information was available at press time.
Girls
— Kealakehe 2, Hilo 0: Senior McKenna Davidson scored in the 27th minute, and junior Kari Van Mols added an insurance goal in the 71st for the host Waveriders in a match that also included a physical altercation midway through the second half.
Davidson scored off a cross from Van Mols for her 14th goal, while Van Mols intercepted a goal kick and slotted in her 15th goal.
Just prior to the Waveriders’ second goal, Hilo junior Rose Nakamura and Kealakehe senior Isla Kruger-Burgess received red cards after some pushing and shoving led to a skirmish in the middle of the field.
Sophomore Sulley Schuster blanked the three-time defending BIIF champion Vikings (6-3-2) in goal.
— Makua Lani 9, St. Joseph 1: Junior Tiffany Nakamura notched a hat trick, giving her a team-high 15 for the season, while junior Lydia Wood, sophomore Karissa Komo and freshman Keili Dorn all scored twice at Old Kona Airport Park as the Lions improved to 5-5.
Freshman Alison Fuata collected her second goal for St. Joseph (1-8-1).
— Hawaii Prep 12, Ka’u 0: Sophomore Nanea Tavares scored three goals over a five-minute stretch late in the first half, giving her 12 for the season, and sophomore Kristiana Van Pernis tallied her second and third goals for host HPA, which also beat Keaau earlier in the day.
Freshman Bri Vallente added her 10th goal of the season, junior Jahnae Ayoso-Purdy scored her sixth, and junior Jessica Benioni bagged her third.
Four players scored for the first time this season: senior Hannah Unger, junior Rae Kennon, sophomore Dani Grainger and freshman Ella Kotner.
Sophomore goalkeeper Morgan Monahan shut out the Trojans (0-10).
— Hawaii Prep 9, Keaau 0: Freshman Gabbie Ewing scored three goals, giving her eight for the season, while senior Katie Case added her eighth and ninth goals for HPA.
Vallente also scored twice, while junior Emily Evans and Ayoso-Purdy each had one goal.
Unger blanked the Cougars (4-7) in goal.
— Waiakea 9, Kohala 0: Junior Taylor Tomori scored twice, freshman Sabrina Scott tallied her eighth goal, and senior Teisha Nacis bagged her seventh in Kapaau for the Warriors (6-2-2).
Senior Karley Swain, sophomores Cheylee Octavio and Karise Kuroda, and freshmen Jordan Melchor and Nyla Orevillo also found the net for Waiakea
Melchor, Nacis, junior Stacia Deponte and freshman Ivy Conley combined to shut out the Cowgirls (1-10) in goal.
jferraro@westhawaiitoday.com
