Hilo boys soccer coach George Ichimaru didn’t signal out any individual players during his halftime speech, nor did he give anyone a wink or a nod to get it in gear.
Hilo boys soccer coach George Ichimaru didn’t signal out any individual players during his halftime speech, nor did he give anyone a wink or a nod to get it in gear.
He didn’t have to because he knew Kalei Tolentino-Perry would take it upon himself anyway.
The senior went on a scoring spree Wednesday, notching three of his four goals in the second half as the Vikings came back from a three-goal deficit to beat Makua Lani 5-3 in a BIIF boys soccer match at Hilo Bayfront.
“He’s just a leader,” Ichimaru said, “and his influence on the team gets bigger when something needs to get done.”
With DJ Madigan making plays all over the field and the Lions (4-4-1 White division) dominating possession, the Vikings (5-2 Red) needed to get a lot done, but they had plenty of time to do it.
Hilo allowed an early own goal, Madigan set up Micah Christensen’s score with a beautiful 40-yard pass, Ichimaru said, and then added one of his own for a 3-0 lead.
“DJ has a fantastic game, no doubt about it,” Ichimaru said, “and they were whipping us.”
“The turning point came when I coached harder and told them to pressure the ball,” he said.
Tolentino cut into the lead with his first goal, and Ichimaru reiterated his pressure point at halftime.
It was a team effort during the comeback, but it was also vintage Tolentino-Perry.
Hilo’s Logan Mizuba made it 3-2, and Tolentino went on a surge, taking over the team lead in goals with 11.
“Kalei understands his role, and we showed some resiliency in bouncing back,” Ichimaru said
Kealakehe 2, Waiakea 0
Laukoa Santos and Brayan Munoz netted goals as the visiting Waveriders (8-1 Red) beat the Warriors (6-2 white).
Hawaii Prep 9, Keaau 0
Austin Schneider scored twice in Waimea as Ka Makani got goals from eight different players to remain undefeated.
Ghar Pautz, Brendan Moynahan, Bip Padraos, Kamuela Lindsey, Noah Wise and Braden Kojima had a goal apiece, and Zane Willman and Keaton Riley combined on the shutout of the Cougars (5-5), who have lost five in a row.
Girls
Hilo 1, Makua Lani 0
It might have been more of a struggle than the Vikings expected, but Haley Miyasato took a corner kick from Hollie Saplan and scored in the 45th minute as the host Vikings (7-1) secured an automatic berth in the HHSAA Division I tournament as the outright regular-season champion in the Red division.
“They played us tough,” Hilo assistant coach Curtis Chong said.
Saydee Bacdad recorded the shutout against the Lions (2-5).
Hawaii Prep 9. Keaau 0
Riley Sohriakoff recorded a hat trick and Sakura Remsen added two goals and had a hand in the shutout for host Ka Makani in Waimea.
Kahele Walsh, Emi Higgins, Teah Van Bergen and Sofia Aguilar finished with a goal apiece for HPA (5-2-1), which clinched the No. 2 seed and a home match in the BIIF Division II semifinals. Kamehameha locked up the top seed Tuesday with a 4-1 win against Konawaena.
Maia Mills also played goalkeeper in the shutout of the Cougars (0-7).
Waiakea 9, Kealakehe 0
Ki Serrao tallied a hat trick and Kaylee Valentino-Fergerstrom and Maiya Serrao each had two goals as the host Warriors tied Konawaena for second place in the Red division.
The Warriors host the Wildcats on Saturday in a match that will help decide home field in the Division I semifinals.
Nanea Moke-Rabang and Bryonie Cameron added goals for Waiakea, and Tiani Kow and Kaira Chang shared in the shutout of the Waveriders (1-8).