One of the gifts of this BIIF season is an unbalanced, three-tiered soccer schedule that produces far more competitive contests than mismatches.
It’s just a shame that Kamehameha’s and Waiakea’s girls won’t get to meet for a second time this season, because though they are slotted in different tiers, blowouts are never a problem when the rival Warriors tangle. The only issue is finding a winner.
For the second consecutive season, it was on at Waiakea. Saturday’s scoreless draw might have lacked some of the back-and-forth pizzazz of last season’s tie, but entertainment value wasn’t lacking, especially as the action picked up in the second half.
Kamehameha (4-0-1, White division) owned more possession in the final 40 minutes, but senior goalkeeper Kaira Chang came away with the play of the match for Waiakea (2-1-1 Red), diving to get a hand on a shot by Kamehameha freshman Chenoa Frederick, who came in on a breakaway after collecting a turnover.
“It was all reaction,” Chang said.
A few minutes later, as junior Faith Aurello tried to run down a throughball on the left flank, Chang had more time to think, and she rushed out to punch the ball free, colliding with Aurello in the process.
“For me, I had to get the ball out,” Chang said. “I’d rather get the ball and get injured, than not and give up a goal.”
Last season, the team’s played to a 4-4 draw in match that saw Waiakea’s Ki Serrao and Kamehameha’s Kekai Wong Yuen take over for their respective teams. Serrao is a junior this season, and though Wong Yuen has graduated, starring in her place place for Kamehameha is Hevani Haunga.
After scoring eight goals in four matches, the junior was was held scoreless for the first time this season. Whenever Haunga got the ball in space, the tension and or excitement at Ken Yamase Stadium was palpable.
“I have to watch out for her, of course,” Chang said, “but I knew my defenders had it.”
Included on that backline are a couple of freshmen, Caneel Corpuz and Maluhia Kekuawela, who are earning their stripes under fire, according to Waiakea assistant coach Sage Van Kralingen.
“They’ve worked hard so we chose them, and they’ve been working hard ever since,” Van Kralingen said.
Coming off a loss to Hilo in which Waiakea was often beaten to the ball, Van Kralingen often saw improvement.
“I really wanted them to work on their transition and movement in the field,” she said.
She also saw her team pick up its intensity in the final 10 minutes and the result was a pair of scoring opportunities. Junior Evyn Prine appeared to have some daylight on right side, but her shot sailed wide. Then senior Kaylee Valentino-Fergerstrom couldn’t get a shot on frame from about 15 yards away after collecting a cross from Serrao.
First-year goalkeeper Kiani Troy collected her first shutout for Kamehameha, which has only allowed four goals in five matches.
“We’re hard to get scored on and we can defend well,” Kamehameha coach Joshua Woodard said. “They had those two chances, but I thought we kept most of the play in their half of the field.”
Boys
Waiakea 3, Kamehameha 1
Senior Michael Scott scored twice, giving him six goals on the season, and Kalani Scheffler also had a goal for host Waiakea (4-0).
Kea Kekuawela had a goal for Kamehameha (1-3)
Honokaa 0, Makua Lani 0
Dragons coach Maurice Miranda said the Lions got the better of the play, but, backed by goalkeeper Maikai Kunishige‐Aikau, Honokaa (0-3-1) earned its first point of the season with a draw at Old Kona Airport Park.
“They moved the ball more, and they are bigger than us and knocked us all around,” Miranda said. “But we hung in there.”
Jonah Marks earned the shut out for Makua Lani (4-0-1).
Kohala 3, Ka’u
The Cowboys (1-4) earned their first win, while the visiting Trojans fell to 0-4.
