By MATT GERHART Tribune-Herald sports writer ADVERTISING Waiakea had a hard enough time marking Christian Liberty’s Nakaya Kerr at even strength. Once the Warriors lost one of their starters, Kerr made sure they lost their lead. Kerr scored in each
By MATT GERHART
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Waiakea had a hard enough time marking Christian Liberty’s Nakaya Kerr at even strength. Once the Warriors lost one of their starters, Kerr made sure they lost their lead.
Kerr scored in each half Wednesday, including the tying goal to give the Canefire a much-needed point in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation boys soccer match that ended in 2-2 draw at the Warriors’ field.
Showing off his quickness and foot skills, the sophomore’s team-leading 10th and 11th scores of the season kept the Canefire (6-3-3, 21 points) in contention to reach their regular-season goal: home-field advantage in the first two rounds of the eight-team BIIF Division II tournament. Third-place Christian Liberty moved within three points of Hawaii Prep in the standings and it can secure the No. 2 seed with a win at home Saturday against Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science and loss by the Ka Makani on Friday at Kealakehe.
“We always wanted to get a good seed to get to states,” Kerr said. “When we heard that we still had a chance to get to second, there was a lot of motivation.”
Seniors Cameron Boucher and Nuu Aiava scored for the Warriors (8-3-1), but Waiakea played at a man disadvantage during the last 30 minutes of the match after Aiava was given a red card during a confrontation between the two teams. Boucher also got a yellow card on the play.
“We knew this was going to be tough game, but we didn’t know it would be as intense,” Christian Liberty coach Troy Rimel said. “Waiakea is a great passing team, and they’ve got speed and athleticism to scare you up front. We’re pretty excited.”
While the Canefire were celebrating the outcome, Waiakea was running wind sprints — coach David Urakami says he’s seen too many mental lapses this season.
“When you lose composure, you lose focus, and that’s the reason we’ve lost some of our games,” he said. “They’re very emotional. A bunch of them want it so bad that they forgot what they need to do.”
Boucher headed in his team-leading 19th goal of the season in the 48th minute off an assist from senior James Yamane to give Waiakea a 2-1 lead, but shortly thereafter Boucher and Aiava were carded.
Kerr made Waiakea pay in the 62nd minute, taking advantage of a Warriors turnover and scoring on a rocket from the top of the box.
“I thought we’d get a good opportunity since they were a man short,” Kerr said. “It was relieving knowing they’d lost one of their strikers.”
Waiakea, which was outshot 15-14, saw its five-match winning streak end. It will be the No. 3 seed in the BIIF Division I semifinals, visiting either the Waveriders or Hilo on Wednesday with a state tournament berth on the line.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Urakami said. “I just want our guys to realize their potential.”
Aiava and Kerr used their speed to create scoring chances in the first half.
Aiava tied the match 1-1 in the 22nd minute, drawing a foul in the box and converting on the penalty kick for his 13th goal of the season.
Kerr’s goal in the ninth minute also came off a turnover. After stripping a defender, he broke in alone down the left side and deftly slotted a shot past goalkeeper RJ Iyo.
In addition to Kerr, Rimel praised his team’s midfielders and the play of sophomore Louis Moylan.
“(Nakaya’s) quick and he’s got the ability to go right or left,” Rimel said. “He’s scored just as many with his left foot as with his right. That’s what makes him so dangerous. Most good strikers in high school are one-footed, but he’s got equal power with either side.”
Kerr set up junior Zach Wolfe with a crossing pass late in the match, but Iyo came up with the save.
Canefire goalkeeper Taylor Benevente made perhaps his best save with the Canefire ahead 1-0, sliding to his right to deny Boucher.
If Christian Liberty and HPA (8-4) both finish with 24 points, the Canefire win the tiebreaker by virtue of their 4-3 victory over the Ka Makani on Jan. 11.
Kealakehe 3, Makua Lani 0: Junior Connor Keale, senior Deja-Dean Ruiz Spinney and sophomore Keoni Yates all scored second-half goals for the host Waveriders (10-1-1).
Ruiz-Spinney set up Keale’s third goal of the season with a free kick that Makua Lani’s goalkeeper mishandled. Keale gathered the rebound and gave Kealakehe the lead.
Ruiz-Spinney then scored on a free kick from 35 yards out in the 63rd minute, and sophomore Keoni Yates scored his team-high 12th goal, firing in a shot from 30 yards out a minute later.
Senior Kawela Benson blanked the Lions (6-5-1) in goal.
Stephens Media contributed to this report.
