The Hilo Vikings aren’t quite the masters of possession that coach George Ichimaru envisions his boys soccer team becoming. Nor have they completely bought into a think-less, shoot-more mentality.
But if their performance Saturday against Makua Lani is any indication, they’re getting there. The Vikings were in complete control at Hilo Bayfront, winning the BIIF match 1-0.
“All preseason we’ve been working on possession and we’re finally looking to attack,” Ichimaru said.
Of course, he would have liked to have seen his team turn its dominant ball-control into more scoring chances, but Hilo (4-2-0) will take the pure artistry of Jace Taka’s effort early in the second half.
Taka pounced on a loose ball and burst past three defenders for the match’s only goal.
“When we talk about mastery, they finally get it, and I don’t have to repeat myself over and over again,” Ichimaru said. “We’re looking forward to getting more opportunities in front of the goal.”
Players such as Taka, Barrett Baca, River Brown and Joshua Rosario helped the Vikings operate with plenty of room at midfield and on the wings, even as they were playing without four starters.
The most notable absence on the pitch, however, was that of striker Aidan Alcos, who scored 20 goals for the Lions last season a a senior.
Without him, Makua Lani lacks a go-to force up to complement playmaking midfielder DJ Madigan.
“Last year we had the chance to just bang it up and let Aiden run at people,” Makua Lani coach Alex Dong said. “This year, we’re trying to develop more of a team. We have a lot of young kids. It’s not rebuilding, but it’s starting to look more like that.”
The Lions (3-2-0) went scoreless for the second consecutive match. Coming off a 3-0 loss at Honokaa, Makua Lani had few chances beyond a pair of moonshots from fullback Reid Murphy as the Vikings made sure Madigan didn’t beat them.
“We had someone on DJ and kept a structure to limit his creativity,” Ichimaru said. “He did get in behind and he’s still an awesome player, but the way we kept marking him and I think dominating possession just tired him out.”
Goalkeeper Ka’aina Lewis made two saves for Hilo.
With midfielder Kalei Tolentino-Perry and fullback Rylen Kaniaupio on Maui for a funeral, and freshman strikers Riley Patterson and Tyler Thompson on the mainland for an Olympic Developmental Program, Devin Albrecht received more playing time and he almost have Hilo a 2-0 lead with a shot that hit the crossbar.
Dong said the Lions accomplished one goal by asserting themselves and setting a physical tone. At times, the match got chippy on both sides.
“They went out there and didn’t just get pushed around, and I’m proud of that,” Dong said. “Purposely, we make sure we make them sweat at least.”
Kamehameha 2, Konawaena 1: Rylan Respicio and Tyler Waltjen scored goals in Kealakekua to spark the Warriors (4-1-0) to their fourth consecutive victory.
Kala’i Santiago tallied the lone goal for the Wildcats (3-3-0).
Kealakehe 9, Keaau 0: Kolby Martin scored bookend goals for the Waveriders (5-0-1) in a mercy rule victory over the visiting Cougars (2-4-0).
Martin scored just over five minutes into the game, and ended the contest with a goal midway through the second half.
Hunter Olaso and James Caudell both had a pair of goals for the Waveriders, who improved their streak of league dominance and bounced back from a rare tie in league play earlier this week against Hawaii Prep.
Kean Shutte and Yuki Lavoie also scored for Kealakehe, while goalkeeper Greyson Moore added a tally on a penalty kick to go with his shutout performance.
Waiakea 8, Kohala 0: Max Adolf put home four goals in Kapaau and Michael Scott had a hat trick as the Warriors improved to 3-2-0.
Griffin Adolf added a score and goalkeeper Ryden Quitoriano kept a clean sheet against the Cowboys (1-4-1).
Honokaa 10, Pahoa 1: Kyle Ohta and Kauiki Feliciano netted hat tricks to spark the visiting Dragons’ third consecutive victory.
Ohta’s second goal came on the second-half kickoff. Micah Miranda added two goals for Honokaa (5-1-0) and Sean Simmerman and Kekeaweiwi Pilayo also scored.
Judah Brand scored for the Daggers (0-5-1) on a free kicks about 25 yards out.
Hawaii Prep 9, Christian Liberty 0: Chris Whitfield and Austin Schneider recorded two goals apiece as visiting Ka Makani ended a modest two-match winless streak.
Zen Simone, Ilan Naibryf, Braden Kojima, Riley Hiatt, Alex Brost tacked on goals for Hawaii Prep (3-1-1), and goalkeeper Stormer Horten blanked the Canefire (0-4-1).
Parker 2, Ka’u 0: The Bulls (3-0-0) carried play and finally took advantage in the second half, getting scores from Skyler Pleuss and Tage Boyette.
Ian Bond was credited with the shutout against the Trojans (0-6-1).
Girls
Konawaena 2, Kamehameha 0: Konawaena goalkeeper Taiana Tolleson shut out the visiting Warriors and Nanea Wall and Haena Keawekane tallied second half goals to help the Wildcats (4-2-0) to victory.
Kamehameha falls to 1-3-0 this season.
Hilo 4, Makua Lani 0: Alyeemomi Amaral opened the scoring in the 10th minute and she capped it in the 57th minute and added an assist in between at Hilo Bayfront.
Glory Medeiros found the back of the net off a cross from Amaral, and captain Jasmine Smeraglia also collected a goal for the Vikings (6-0-0).
Ashley Mendes made two saves to shut out the Lions (2-2-0).
Honokaa 11, Pahoa 0: Pulelehua Lindsey scored three goals and Jeana Altura added two as visiting Dragons earned their first victory of the season.
Hia Kapu, Puaena Kapu, Tia Agdeppa, Keliko Hurley, Anna Hosek and Tasha Ohta also scored for Honokaa (1-3-1), which entered the game having only scored once.
Goalkeeper Evangelyn Durante recorded the shutout against the Daggers (0-3-0).
