Bri Vallente called it one of the best feelings of her life.
Bri Vallente called it one of the best feelings of her life.
After two consecutive disappointments in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II championship game, Hawaii Prep’s girls soccer team finally broke through last February, delivering the school its first state team title.
“Amazing. I don’t think winning it again would feel as great as the first time,” Vallente said.
But that doesn’t mean Ka Makani have lost their edge.
Neither Vallente, a high-scoring senior striker, nor coach Stephen Perry see lack of motivation as an issue this season as five-time defending Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion HPA switches from the hunter to the hunted.
“I think it probably helped us,” Perry said. “I think they are really determined to see what they can do. They’ve had a nice run, they want to finish it the right way.
“There are enough girls that were really involved that have a set a good tone since the first day of practice.”
Perry said HPA’s hard work actually started before preseason practice.
He noted a number of players bettered their games in the offseason by making sure they touched the ball at least once each day and by improving their conditioning.
The first player he mentions is Vallente.
“She’s really driven this year and has worked at her game,” Perry said. “She’s stronger physically. If you look at her legs, she’s a force. She’s going to be a pain this season for a lot of teams.”
Ka Makani lost four starters: Nanea Tavares — the BIIF Division II Player of the Year who netted the winning overtime goal against Mid-Pacific in the state title game — as well as three key pieces on defense.
But with fourth-year starters Vallente and Gabbie Ewing still in the fold, an ever-improving Kaui Taylor and the addition of a bumper crop of first-year players, Perry feels Ka Makani has improved its depth and talent level.
The measuring stick, he says, will be to see if HPA can develop into a better team during the next two months, a process which will continue at Ka Makani Soccer Classic, scheduled for Friday through Sunday in Waimea.
“We just want to be resilient and know that we need to bounce back,” Vallente said. “Just because we won the state title, it’s not just going to be given back to us. We have to have that drive and passion to win again.”
If Ka Makani ever do lack fire, Ewing will probably have something to say about it. While Vallente is the heir apparent to replace Tavares as HPA’s leading scorer, Ewing is the odds-on favorite to follow Tavares as Division II player of the year.
“She definitely makes sure everyone is on it,” Vallente said. “She’s almost like the rock to our soccer team.”
Even without Tavares, Perry doesn’t think HPA will lose any of explosiveness. Taylor, a junior, will move up top to work with Vallente at forward.
“She’s really blossomed and her soccer knowledge is unmatched,” Perry said of Taylor.
Ka Makani returns experience at midfield. Juniors Marlie Mandaguit and Erin Evans will work with Ewing, while Teia Knoll, the team’s other fourth-year starter, could play middle half or middle back depending on the situation.
Alongside seniors Brittani Boora and Mailani Neal, Ka Makani will turn to three freshmen to bolster the back line in Julia Perry, the coach’s daughter, Teah Van Bergen and Jordan Zarate. Neal, from Kailua-Kona, is a transfer from Kamehameha-Kapalama on Oahu who is entering her first year of high school soccer.
Perry said the unit lacks big-game experience, but not seasoning.
“I don’t care about (their grade),” Perry said. “Soccer knowledge is soccer knowledge.”
Like most of her teammates, Perry said junior goalkeeper Taimane Kamaka has worked to improve, making herself more flexible as she enters her first year as a starter.
All Vallente has known during her high school career are BIIF championships and HHSAA title game appearances. Will she get that amazing feeling again?
“The new girls that we got are quality players, so I don’t think we are going to have a drop-off,” Vallente said. “We are all going to work hard and everyone is passionate about getting better.”