Lanakila, a 17-and-under girls club soccer team featuring 16 Big Island high school players and one Maui player, went 1-1-2 at the Nike Crossfire Challenge in Redmond, Wash., before going 4-1 and winning the Gold Division crown at the adidas Beaverton Cup in Beaverton, Ore. At the Nike Crossfire Challenge held July 14-16, Lanakila went 1-0-2 in pool play, twice erasing two-goal deficits with less than 15 minutes remaining to salvage ties. The Big Island team then fell 1-0 in the quarterfinals. In the adidas Beaverton Cup Gold Division championship match, Hawaii Prep’s Emily Evans scored in the 67th minute, and Waiakea’s Jordan Melchor made a save on a breakaway opportunity in the final seconds to preserve a 1-0 win over Portland’s ET Tottenham. Lanakila earned a 3-0 victory in the semifinals after winning two pool play games by the same score in the three-day tournament held July 20-22. Front row, from left: Kealakehe’s Mika Bettencourt, Honokaa’s Monica Carlos, Hilo’s Taylor Matas, Tiana Edwards, Kealakehe’s Caili Ebaniz and Kealakehe’s Kailii Smith. Back row, from left: Coach Trevor Edwards, Maui High’s Jovena Lee-Agcaoili, Kealakehe’s Lexie Cuaresma, Makua Lani’s Karissa Komo, HPA’s Gabbie Ewing, HPA’s Dani Grainger, Konawaena’s Ua Ruedy, Evans, Hilo’s Taylor Pacheco, Honokaa’s Mae Quiamas, Hilo’s Lolly Higa, Melchor and Coach John Edwards. Not pictured: Honokaa’s Kelly Greenwell. (Special to West Hawaii Today))
Lanakila, a 17-and-under girls club soccer team featuring 16 Big Island high school players and one Maui player, went 1-1-2 at the Nike Crossfire Challenge in Redmond, Wash., before going 4-1 and winning the Gold Division crown at the adidas Beaverton Cup in Beaverton, Ore. At the Nike Crossfire Challenge held July 14-16, Lanakila went 1-0-2 in pool play, twice erasing two-goal deficits with less than 15 minutes remaining to salvage ties. The Big Island team then fell 1-0 in the quarterfinals. In the adidas Beaverton Cup Gold Division championship match, Hawaii Prep’s Emily Evans scored in the 67th minute, and Waiakea’s Jordan Melchor made a save on a breakaway opportunity in the final seconds to preserve a 1-0 win over Portland’s ET Tottenham. Lanakila earned a 3-0 victory in the semifinals after winning two pool play games by the same score in the three-day tournament held July 20-22. Front row, from left: Kealakehe’s Mika Bettencourt, Honokaa’s Monica Carlos, Hilo’s Taylor Matas, Tiana Edwards, Kealakehe’s Caili Ebaniz and Kealakehe’s Kailii Smith. Back row, from left: Coach Trevor Edwards, Maui High’s Jovena Lee-Agcaoili, Kealakehe’s Lexie Cuaresma, Makua Lani’s Karissa Komo, HPA’s Gabbie Ewing, HPA’s Dani Grainger, Konawaena’s Ua Ruedy, Evans, Hilo’s Taylor Pacheco, Honokaa’s Mae Quiamas, Hilo’s Lolly Higa, Melchor and Coach John Edwards. Not pictured: Honokaa’s Kelly Greenwell. (Special to West Hawaii Today))