The Konawaena girls hosted Kaiser High School in the annual Guava Bowl at Julian Yates Field in Kealakekua on Saturday. In the 2014 edition of the bowl game, The Cougars managed to edge out the Wildcats on penalty kicks to claim the title for the first time in two years. However, Konawaena bounced back by winning a first round state playoff game against Kaiser two and a half months later.
The Konawaena girls hosted Kaiser High School in the annual Guava Bowl at Julian Yates Field in Kealakekua on Saturday. In the 2014 edition of the bowl game, The Cougars managed to edge out the Wildcats on penalty kicks to claim the title for the first time in two years. However, Konawaena bounced back by winning a first round state playoff game against Kaiser two and a half months later.
This year, Konawaena was able to reclaim the title with a 3-1 win thanks to the a few well timed goals and solid play in net by standout goalkeeper Taiana Tolleson. Kaiser controlled possession for most of the game, but the Wildcat keeper was able to make save after save to claim the victory.
“She was fantastic,” said Konawaena head coach Guy Miranda. “She is a great captain and it is good for the younger kids to see how hard she plays.”
Kaiser was able to control the ball thanks to the play of forward Tommi Hintnaus. Hintnaus nearly scored in the 10th minute but her shot from just inside the 18 sailed right. Three minutes later she did find the back of the net off a corner kick, taking the ball on the far side, just outside the six, and placing it in the bottom right corner of the net.
The Wildcat offense began to stir in the middle of the first half. Konawaena punched the ball downfield quickly and tied the game when Keliyah Kimitete took a pass from inside the 18 and sent a floater that deflected off the upper right post.
In the 35th minute Konawaena took the lead on a breakaway counterattack. Nanea Wall jumped out to the front of the pack and took a pass from a teammate from 30 yards out. She dribbled inside the 18 and sent a cross from the right side of the field that went past a diving Cougar keeper and into the bottom left side of the net. Konawaena led 2-1 and would maintain the advantage into the break.
In the second half, Hintnaus continued to get shots on goal and nearly scored in the 55th minute when she beat the Konawaena defense and got into a 1-on-1 with Tolleson. The kick went right at the keeper and she was able to hold on for the save.
Konawaena went into counterattack mode after the play and nearly scored on a Wall kick from the 18, but the ball sailed into the side of the net.
As the clock ticked away, Kaiser became more aggressive on offense, which supplied many opportunities, to score but Tolleson deny them all.
Konawaena added an insurance goal with six minutes to play when Nalani Wall chipped the ball to her sister Nanea, who then sent a cross to Kimitete. Kimitete found the back of the net for her second goal of the game.
The win was Konawaena’s third of the series. They still trail Kaiser 4-3 all-time in the Guava Bowl series that started in 2009.