Alyeemomi Amaral used to be the hot-shot freshman for Hilo High, but two years later she finds herself on a sophomore-dominated Vikings squad, and she doesn’t feel like such a young gun anymore.
“I feel like I’m a grandma,” Amaral said.
Even so, she hasn’t lost her touch or aim.
Amaral did her job in the middle Wednesday like any good veteran, scoring two goals as Hilo controlled the flanks, took over in the second half and rolled past short-handed Hawaii Prep 4-0 in a season-opening battle of BIIF champions at Hilo Bayfront.
Another “old lady,” senior Lauree Anne DeMattos netted a goal and assist for the Vikings, who rode a bumper crop of freshmen last season to an undefeated BIIF season and their first Division I title since 2011.
“I was super nervous for this game,” Hilo coach Skee Saplan said. “If I’m nervous, usually the girls are nervous, too.”
There were no signs of a sophomore slump.
Hilo scored in the first minute, then “got lazy,” Amaral said, but quickly asserted itself coming out of halftime with a 1-0 lead. When sophomore Jordyn Pacheco wasn’t streaking down the right flank to send crisp passes into the box, then it was sophomore Miya Clarke.
The tandem combined for 21 goals as freshmen. Each missed golden opportunities at their first scores Wednedsay, but they’ve got other concerns on their plates.
“They’re the assisters,” Amaral said. “They are supposed to go down and cross. That’s their job.
“We stopped dribbling and trying to do it by ourself.”
Pacheco assisted on three goals. In the opening minute, she sent a right cross that Clarke headed, setting up sophomore Haley Miyasato’s goal.
“We had a game plan and stuck to it,” Saplan said. “Attack those flanks on the outside and be first to the ball.
“Once we got back into the flow, we were pretty solid.”
If this wasn’t the most lopsided defeat for Ka Makani since they started their run of winning consecutive Division II titles in 2009-10, then it was close. HPA, the three-time defending HHSAA D-II champion, was playing without at least four starters, including midfield force Jordan Zarate.
“They just went to the ball better than we did,” coach Stephen Perry said. “We didn’t keep our possession as much as we can.”
Sophomore Saydee Bacdad made five saves to secure the shutout for Hilo.
HPA was coming off a 2-1 penalty-kick victory Sunday against Maui’s King Kekaulike to win its Ka Makani Classic. On Friday in Waimea, Hilo was missing six starters in a 6-1 loss to King Kekaulike.
“We knew they were going to be ready to roll,” Perry said. “We held them down as long as we could.
“We have to hope some horses are coming back, but it is what it is and you have to play with what you have.”
Waiakea 3, Konawaena 1
Ki Serrao collected a hat trick in Kealakekua as the Wildcats won a season-opener that was a rematch of a BIIF semifinal that Waiakea won last season.
Kiana Corpuz, Kaylee Valentino‐Fergerstrom, and Nanea Moke-Rabang assisted on Serrao’s goals.
Nalani Wall gave the Wildcats the lead with a goal in the first half, but they were unable to sustain the momentum.
“Waiakea picked it up and we didn’t,” Konawaena coach Guy Miranda said. “We got what we deserved.”
Boys
Hawaii Prep 5, Hilo
Braden Kojima and Bip Padraos netted two goals apiece as Ka Makani opened its BIIF Division II title defense with a solid effort at Hilo Bayfront.
Chris Whitfield tallied a goal and an assist for Ka Makani, and Mateo Batol also garnered an assist.
“Braden was very good today, as was Kama Morrison and Noah Wise in back,” said coach Rich Braithwaite, who rotated three goalkeepers.
Riley Patterson accounted for the Vikings’ goal.
Tuesday
In a boys game in Kealakekua, Konawaena blanked Ka’u 7-0.
Allen Cancino-Magana and Ricardo Lopez Saldana shared in the shutout.
