Ki Serrao will get the glory, and why not?
Ki Serrao will get the glory, and why not?
Her hat trick Wednesday in the BIIF semifinals was more than Waiakea needed to put away Konawaena 5-0 at the Warriors’ field.
But the Warriors’ third consecutive trip to the Division I girls championship match was ignited by smaller plays that allowed Serrao to take advantage of her finishing skills.
Freshman Caneel Corpuz hustled in the first half to keep a ball alive near the sideline, keeping the Wildcats from getting a throw-in on Waiakea’s end. Freshman Maiya Serrao sprinted down the right sideline in the second half and threaded the needle with a cross to set up her older sister with a breakaway goal.
“I’m so grateful, and I just stand at the top and say please, please, please,” Ki Serrao said of watching her teammates do their thing.
But the junior striker/sniper knows how to do her thing when the ball comes her way.
“I run and hope for the best,” she said.
With structure on the back line, and sizzle up top, it was surprisingly that easy for Waiakea (6-3-2), which advanced to the HHSAA tournament for the third consecutive season but still has unfinished business to get to against Hilo, which beat Keaau 9-0 in the other semifinal, in the title match at 7 p.m. Friday at Kamehameha.
Nobody on the Warriors’ sidelines needs to be reminded that the school is still searching for its first girls soccer title.
“No pressure,” Serrao joked.
Hilo, a 2-1 winner in last season’s final, swept the season series, prevailing 3-1 and 2-0.
“Going to the final will be a good experience for the freshmen, because they bring a lot of energy,” Waiakea coach Jason Nakayama said.
Senior Kaylee Valentino-Fergerstrom scored the first goal of the semifinal and Waiakea led 2-0 after a closely played first half.
After a pleasant day weather-wise, it started to rain hard at halftime, and the proverbial sky seemed to fall in on the Wildcats (4-4-3).
“I think that threw them off,” Serrao said. “We actually practiced all day in the pouring rain (on Tuesday), and that kind of worked to our advantage.”
Konawaena coach Guy Miranda wondered if he pushed his team too hard during warmups.
“I don’t know, we just came out flat and weren’t getting to any balls,” Miranda said. “We just got our butts whooped.”
It should be noted that the last time Konawaena missed the BIIF final in consecutive years (2010-11), it came back with a vengeance, reaching four consecutive title games and pocketing a threepeat.
“We have a good group coming back,” said Miranda, who played 10 freshmen this season.
He credited goalkeeper Kyanah Blas with keeping the Wildcats in the match during a 0-0 draw at Waiakea on Jan. 14, but the freshman never had a chance in this one.
Nalani wall was ever-present for Konawaena was ever-present and put eight of her 10 shots on frame, but Waiakea kept her from getting the quality chances afforded Serrao and junior Evyn Prine, who scored for Waiakea in the second half and had another goal waved off.
Boosted by a back line – freshman Maluhia Kekuawela, senior Talia Corpuz, sophomore Kalena Kekaualua and Caneel Corpuz are four of the primary players – that Nakayama called organized and composed, senior goalkeeper Kaira Chang made 10 saves.
“We worked hard on possessing the ball and not giving them corner kicks and direct kicks,” Nakayama said. “I’m very proud of how far the girls have come. We utilized all our players, but Ki had the openings.”
She capped her fourth hat trick of the season with another one-on-one goal, her 14th, after collecting a pass from Kiana Corpuz.
It’s not that her job is easy, Serrao said, but she marveled at the play of her defense.
“They were great,” she said. “I’ve played defense before with my club team, but I don’t know if I could do that job.
“It’s too much.”
Hilo 9, Keaau 0
Miya Clarke scored two goals and assisted on four others at Hilo Bayfront for the Vikings, who needed 59 minutes to reach their third final in four seasons.
Alyeemomi Amaral scored twice off assists from Jordyn Pacheco, who finished with a goal and three assists. Kalamanamana Harman added her first goal of the season, Haley Miyasato, Hollie Saplan and Paige Hiraki also scored, and Saydee Bacdad and Wren Wong combined on the shut out of the Cougars (2-10).