Not that he’s surprised, but Honokaa coach Maurice Miranda said that the Konawaena team that showed up at the Dragons’ field did not resemble the squad he saw play last weekend or the one he heard about previous to that.
Not that he’s surprised, but Honokaa coach Maurice Miranda said that the Konawaena team that showed up at the Dragons’ field did not resemble the squad he saw play last weekend or the one he heard about previous to that.
The Wildcats looked much better and played crisper Wednesday. Logan Takizawa scored in the first half and Konawaena bounced back from a pair of BIIF losses for 1-0 victory.
The Wildcats had been shut out in their last two games, a 2-0 loss to Hilo with Miranda in attendance, a 9-0 TKO loss to Kealakehe on Dec. 9.
“They were a lot more organized than against Hilo,” Miranda said.
As for Wildcats’ ugly 9-0 loss to their rival, Miranda knows all about the key to playing the Waveriders. His Dragons were the last BIIF team to beat Kealakehe in 2012.
“When you play Kealakehe, you have to keep them off the scoreboard in the first 15 minutes,” he said. “If so, you have chance.”
The Wildcats (2-2) couldn’t do that then, but they held Honokaa scoreless behind freshman goalkeeper Kala’i Santiago.
“They survived our chances,” Miranda said.
Konawaena scored its first goal since a season-opening victory against Kohala when Takizawa ran down a through ball from Sergio Garcia in the 35th minute and one-timed it past the Dragons’ keeper.
Instead of falling into an early season whole in the Division I race, the Wildcats can reach the holiday break with a winning record with a victory Saturday against Keaau.
Honokaa (2-1-0) lost its first match of the season.
“It was a pretty windy day. They played well in the first half and we played well in the second half,” Miranda said. “I thought (Konawaena) played better at the midfield and connected on passes better.”
Waiakea 6, Keaau 1: Michael Scott netted four goals, giving him seven on the season, and Gehrig Octavio scored twice for the visiting Warriors (2-1-0).
Daniel Rivera scored in the second half for the Cougars (1-2-0).
Christian Liberty 0, Pahoa 0: The Canefire (0-1-1) and Daggers (0-3-1) each earned their first point of the season in a match at Pahoa.
Girls
Konawaena 2, Honokaa 0: Alissa Nahale-Blanco and Nanea Wall scored as the visiting Wildcats evened their record at 2-2-0.
Taiana Tolleson earned the shutout against the Dragons (0-2-1).
Waiakea 8, Keaau 0: The Warriors improved to 3-0-0 in a match on the Cougars’ field that ended early because of a downpour.
The Cougars fell to 0-2-1.