Max Bowman couldn’t tell you what a BIIF championship trophy looks like. He never won one during his playing days at Honokaa, and he was already out of college during the Daggers’ glory years.
So he had no point of comparison Sunday as he admired the Big Island Soccer League hardware.
“It might be the most satisfying, since I’m so old now,” said Bowman, 29.
In an adult league final that doubled as a Honokaa High reunion and had no shortage of intensity or drama, Bowman scored the first goal on a penalty kick and the last in double overtime as Kipuupuu outlasted Shaka FC 4-3 as darkness approached at soggy Amauulu Field.
After the match, the teams hugged as one, and they sometimes played as one – and not just because of camaraderie.
“I was passing to the other team because we had the same colors,” Bowman said. “At halftime, my idea was to go shirts and skins.”
While Kipuupuu represented North Hawaii, Shaka’s members played their high school ball at Honokaa or Hilo High.
Former Viking Jonathan Perez bagged two goals and former Dragon Rezz Louden also scored as Shaka took a 3-1 lead late into the match.
“I thought they were going to call (the match),” Bowman said.
Some players were perhaps getting ready for a cold one when silliness ensued.
Kaaina Bowman, no relation to Max, scored what appeared to be a harmless goal. Then Kipuupuu goalkeeper Maikai Coelho punted a ball that sliced off a defender and skipped over Shaka’s goalkeeper for a tie.
In the second 15-minute overtime, the Bowman-to-Bowman connection paid off for Kipuupuu.
“At the end of the game my legs were dead,” Max Bowman said. “I’m just looking for an easy one. It bounced right.”
Bowman did win NCAA division championship trophies while playing at the University of Redlands.
He graduated from Honokaa in 2004, and seven years later Coelho was the goalkeeper on a Honokaa team that won the first of its back-to-back HHSAA championships.
“We’re the old guys,” Bowman said. “Some (on Shaka) played with us last year. We call them the young boys.”
