During most seasons, Honokaa boys soccer coach Maurice Miranda wouldn’t only welcome being slotted among the elite in the BIIF’s new three-tiered divisional format, he’d insist upon it.
But this is not one of those seasons.
While the top teams are honing finished products, Miranda jokes that the experience-deprived Dragons “are still in diapers.”
After taking their lumps in the preseason, ready or not, the real season starts Tuesday, and Honokaa is starting at the top with a visit to five-time defending league Division I champion Kealakehe.
“Hopefully, they have the wrong game time,” Miranda said with a laugh. “No, we’ll be fine, but we’re just going to keep slugging way.”
One of the top soccer minds on the island, Miranda is in a joking mood because he’s encouraged by his young team’s enthusiasm. Still, there will be little room for growing pains during an unforgiving slate of matches to start the season.
The Dragons don’t just open with the Waveriders, but they’ll play them again at home less than two weeks later on Dec. 10, and in between they have matches against BIIF D-I runner-up Hilo and HHSAA Division II champion Hawaii Prep.
“It’s not going to be pretty,” Miranda said. “It’s going to be a long road.”
Such is life in the power-packed Red division, which also includes HHSAA Division II runner-up Kamehameha. Red teams will play each other twice and once against teams from the White division (Waiakea, Konawaena, Makua Lani and Keaau). Those four teams play everyone once, including against the Blue division (Christian Liberty, Kohala, Ka’u, Pahoa), who will also play home and away but skip the Red.
“I like the format, and it’s great for the really good teams,” Miranda said. “But for this season, in hindsight, we’re probably better off in the white.
“I’m back to teaching basic skills. The other (Red) coaches are working on advanced tactics.”
The Dragons reached the BIIF Division II final last season, losing to Hawaii Prep, and made the HHSAA semifinals for the third consecutive season, falling to league rival Kamehameha.
Due to an assortment of issues, four would-be returning starters were lost, leaving Honokaa with just one senior, standout Kauiki Feliciano, and a handful of upperclassmen.
Junior Isaac Aguilar could be one of the BIIF’s top goalkeepers, though Miranda is tempted to use him in the field to help Honokaa control pace along with Feliciano and junior midfielder Levi Higa.
“Kauiki is one you have to watch,” Miranda said. “He’s very resourceful in creating his own shot.”
Sophomore Daneau Domingo will start at center back on what is an otherwise green backline.
Miranda said he’d have to go back 20 years to remember taking such an inexperienced team into a season, and at least two freshmen will be counted on.
The Dragons were outscored 27-3 during a three-match preseason stint, but a highlight came last Friday when Yo Bostwick scored twice in a 4-3 victory against Kauai’s Kapaa. Kyren Martins may only weigh 80 pounds, but he reminds Miranda of former Dragon Chayce Moniz, who helped Honokaa win consecutive HHSAA D-II titles in 2011-12.
“He’s like the energizer bunny,” Miranda said. “You wind him up and put him on the field and he doesn’t stop.”
Tuesday
Boys
Kohala at Keaau, 3 p.m.
Ka’u at Konawaena, 3 p.m.
Pahoa at Makua Lani, 3 p.m.
Honokaa at Kealakehe, 4 p.m.
Girls
Honokaa at Kealakehe, 2 p.m.
Wednesday
Boys
Hawaii Prep at Hilo, 4 p.m.
Girls
Hawaii Prep at Hilo, 2 p.m
Waiakea at Konawaena, 3 p.m.
