Honokaa’s boys soccer team didn’t have a go-to guy – until now.
Junior Kauiki Feliciano scored the Dragons’ first three goals Friday on their field, and Honokaa played smooth offensively and staunch defensively for a thorough 4-0 victory against defending BIIF Division II champion Kamehameha.
“Up until today we hadn’t had a bona-fide goal scorer,” coach Maurice Miranda said. “When Kauiki had a chance to finish, he did.”
Feliciano completed his hat trick early in the second half. Sophomore Micah Miranda chipped a ball that drew out the Warriors’ goalkeeper, but Feliciano beat him to the punch and scored on a header.
Earlier in the match, Maurice Miranda already could tell that an emphasis on possession and quick transition in recent practices was paying off for the Dragons (2-0).
“You could see we’re moving the ball and attacking faster,” he said. “We created quite a few chances and defensively we played quite well.”
Feliciano scored off an assist from senior Andy Connors in the 10th minute, and freshman Daneau Domingo slid a ball through the defense that Feliciano ran down for a goal just a minute later.
Sophomore Isaac Aguilar made routine saves, Miranda said, in collecting the shutout, spoiling the season-opener for Kamehameha (0-1).
Feliciano also assisted on sophomore Levi Higa’s goal in the 73rd minute.
Despite Honokaa being without injured senior captain Zechariah Ugalde, the Warriors’ best offense consisted of a handful of corner kicks.
Miranda said Kamehameha looked nothing like the team that caught fire last season behind striker Dominik Pajimola and goalkeeper Sean Miday and won 13 of 14 matches, reaching the HHSAA title game.
Pajimola and Miday each graduated, but Miranda doesn’t doubt that Warriors will improve under coach Mario Patino.
Last December, Honokaa shut out Kamehameha before the Warriors went on their streak and won their first league title.
”I told our team that if we play them again it’s going to get tougher, and in the playoffs, if we make the playoffs, if we play a team like this they will be better,” Miranda said. “Of course, so will we.”
Girls
Kamehameha 4, Honokaa 0: Kekai Wong Yuen, Kahala Huddleston, Hevani Haunga and Jaden Dinkel scored as the Warriors went on the road to even their record at 1-1.
Cyrene Andaya shut out the Dragons (0-1-1), and Honokaa coach Gerald Shiraki said his team didn’t muster many chances offensively.
“We were lucky it was only 4-0,” Shiraki said. “They are really good.”
