The semifinal winners will earn automatic berths in the HHSAA Division I state tournament, which takes place Feb. 15-18 at Oahu’s Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.
WHT STAFF REPORTS
Senior Robert Connors scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season at Old Kona Airport Park for defending Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II state champ Honokaa, which capped a perfect Big Island Interscholastic Federation regular season with a 4-0 win over Makua Lani on Saturday.
Junior Clayton Robinson staked the Dragons to a 1-0 halftime lead, taking a pass from sophomore Justin Warren inside the 18-yard box before spinning around a defender and scoring his fourth goal of the season.
The Dragons then put the match out of reach in a two-minute span midway through the second half, with Connors taking a cross from Josh Tobias and chipping the ball over the Lions goalkeeper in the 59th minute and senior Lloyd Edwards heading in a throw-in from senior Dylan Shiraki in the 60th.
Connors scored the second of his two goals in stoppage time off an assist from senior Chayce Moniz.
Senior Maikai Coelho blanked the Lions (6-6-1) in net.
The eight-team BIIF Division II tournament begins Tuesday, and officials at Honokaa were informed this week that eighth-seeded Kohala (2-12) will forfeit a quarterfinal match at top-seeded Honokaa, giving the Dragons a spot in Thursday’s semifinals.
Honokaa (14-0) will face the winner of Tuesday’s 3 p.m. quarterfinal between Makua Lani and host Konawaena (6-5-2).
c Christian Liberty 7, Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science 0: Sophomore Louis Moylan netted a hat trick, and sophomore Nakaya Kerr added his team-leading 12th and 13th goals as the Canefire secured the No. 2 seed in the Division II tournament.
The contest was played at Christian Liberty’s campus in Keaau, but because of poor field conditions, the Canefire (7-3-3) and No. 7 Kamehameha-Hawaii (4-8-1) will play Tuesday’s 3 p.m. quarterfinal match at Amauulu Field in Wainaku.
Seniors Preston Cawagas and Ian Clark also added goals, and goalkeepers Taylor Benevente and Keanu Bergfeld shared in the shutout of Na Naia (0-12-1).
The Canefire and Hawaii Prep (8-5) each finished the regular season with 24 points, but Christian Liberty earned the higher seed by virtue of their 4-3 victory against Ka Makani on Jan. 11 in Wainaku.
HPA will host No. 6 Parker (5-8) at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the quarterfinals.
c Waiakea 5, Keaau 0: Senior Cameron Boucher scored three goals, giving him a BIIF-high 22 for the season as the Warriors ended their regular season 9-3-1.
Seniors James Yamane and Alika Carriaga also found the net for Waiakea, which will travel to face second-seeded Hilo (11-1-1) in a BIIF semifinal scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday at Hilo Bayfront.
Waiakea senior goalkeeper R.J. Iyo blanked the Cougars (3-10), who will face top-seeded Kealakehe (11-1-1) at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the other BIIF Division I semifinal.
The semifinal winners will earn automatic berths in the HHSAA Division I state tournament, which takes place Feb. 15-18 at Oahu’s Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.