KAILUA-KONA — The new era at Konawaena is off on the right foot.
With first-year head coach Kaua Wall at the helm, the Wildcats (1-0) coasted to a 4-0 victory over crosstown rival Kealakehe (0-1) on Tuesday night at Waverider Stadium.
Wall, a former assistant, stepped in this year for Guy Miranda, who had spent nearly two decades as the Wildcats’ skipper. While the nerves were high in the BIIF opener for both squads, it was smooth sailing for Konawaena, which opened up a 3-0 lead by the end of the first half.
“I’m proud of the girls. We were able to play a lot of formations and change things up a lot. It was a good win,” Wall said. “It’s bittersweet in a way. I’m excited to lead this program, but it’s hard without (Guy) here because we were such a partnership in the way we ran the team. But he’s been to every game so far, cheering us on. We want to play this season for him.”
Nalani Wall recorded a first half goal and assist in the victory, putting on a show with some fancy footwork. Jadaisha Waahila, Tatia Denis-McRight and Jordan Bear also notched goals for the Wildcats.
“Playing in a cross-town rivalry game is always fun,” Nalani Wall said. “We have a lot to work on, but it will all come together. I think if we work hard, this team can go far.”
Wall and fellow senior Kaiya Denis — who lurks on defense for the Wildcats — are the standout returning starters for Konawaena. Both were all-BIIF picks as juniors a year ago on the team that fell to Waiakea in the BIIF semifinals. Leina Takizawa rounds out Konawaena’s senior trifecta that will be the motor of the team.
Konawaena last went to the state tournament in 2015, which was also the same year the program took home its last BIIF Division I title. While returning to those heights are obviously aspirations, the focus right now is firmly on the basics for the new-look ‘Cats.
“We are just working hard to be a family on and off the field and staying on top of being good student-athletes,” Kaua Wall said.
Nalani Wall got the Wildcats on the board first by being in the right place at the right time, putting away a ball after a small scramble in front of the Kealakehe net.
“Soccer is so unpredictable,” Nalani Wall said of her tally. “You just have to get the goal.”
Konawaena’s next goal came from a distance, with Waahila letting go of a high-arcing shot that was misjudged by the Kealakehe keeper. It bounced into the net with a little over 15 minutes gone to make it 2-0.
Wall added an assist to her stat line with some nifty work down the makai sideline, shaking a defender and delivering a beautiful cross right onto the foot of Denis-McRight, making it 3-0.
“She’s very unselfish and she makes other players look good around her. She doesn’t do it by herself,” Kaua Wall said. “I think everyone enjoys watching her play.”
Kealakehe’s closet chance of the first half came with less than a minute left, with a Waverider forward breaking through the Wildcat defense but not being able to get a shot on goal before keeper Finesity Salinas-Gouveia gobbled up the ball.
The Waveriders kept up the bit of pressure to open the second half, registering their first shot on goal, but couldn’t manage to find the back of the net during the final 40 minutes.
Bear added a late tally for the Wildcats in the 73rd minute, cleaning up a rebound and securing the 4-0 victory.
