It’s go-time for Kamehameha’s girls soccer team.
Mixing a talented freshman class in with a solid upperclassmen core, the Warriors have breezed through their five BIIF matches, but the rubber officially starts to hit the road this week, starting with a Tuesday home match against Hilo.
The Warriors (5-0) are one of only two teams to beat the Vikings (4-0-1) during their three-plus year reign, but that cross-divisional matchup is only an appetizer for Kamehameha. On Saturday at 1 p.m., the Warriors visit Hawaii Prep. They finally wrestled the BIIF Division II title away from Ka Makani last year, only to lose to HPA in the state final a week later.
“We’ve been waiting to play them,” coach Josh Woodard said of the HPA and Hilo.
HPA and Kamehameha have a habit of playing in title games, which tend to come down to a play or two, and that play is usually made by Ka Makani. The exception was the 2018 league title game, which the Warriors won in a shootout.
Senior center back Kaila Ambrosio, a four-year starter, knows the story line as well as anyone.
“It’s been that way since my freshman year, HPA is the team to beat,” Ambrosio told the Tribune-Herald before the regular season started. “But this year is a little different. We went to Maui (for preseason) and did very well, even with the freshmen, so it’s going to be who wants it more.”
More often than not, she said, it comes down to morale.
“HPA is never nervous to win,” she said. “That’s the difference between us and them, more jitters and everything. I think we’re pretty even. It’s definitely going to come down to luck of the draw.”
Coming into the regular season, the biggest question surrounding the Warriors regarded who was going to replace striker Hevani Haunga, who got playing time during her freshman season at UNLV this fall. Haunga could have been a two-time BIIF D-II player of the year if not for Emi Higgins’ knack for scoring big goals for HPA.
Woodard didn’t know who was going to fill Haunga’s shoes before the season, but freshman Raeshalyn Respicio has come on strong at striker, scoring 10 goals for the Warriors, who have outscored their first five opponents 50-0 (Ka’u twice, Makua Lani, Honokaa and Keaau).
“High work rate, very tough,” Woodward said. “An engine, just always running.”
Other freshmen making an instant impact include Nanea Wong Yuen (three goals), Kastle Lyman and goalkeeper Kaylia Galindo.
Wong Yuen is the younger sister of former player of the year Kekai Wong Yuen, and Woodard thinks Nanea could be on a similar career trajectory, while Galindo nor fellow keeper Nyka-Rae Laeda have given up a goal yet.
Senior Roycie Faye is third on the team in scoring with six goals – Ambrosio has collected seven – junior Chenoa Frederick (three goals) is a track star with tantalizing speed on the flanks and Jaden Dinkel (four) returned for her senior year to help bolster the midfield. The center backs are seniors Saige DeMotta and Joey Cootey.
Of course, all bets are off when the competition is Hilo and HPA, and when the going gets tough, Ambrosio is likely to lead the way.
“I feel I have a very big influence on the team,” she said. “If I’m having a bad day, they’re having a bad day. So I always need to be on my A-game and make sure the team is of positive mind.”
She termed her relationship with Haunga as “two pees in a pod,” and she’ll reunite with her friend next season at UNLV. Ambrosio committed to the Runnin’ Rebels before Haunga, signing with them in November.
Haunga played in 14 matches as a true freshman at UNLV (11-6-3, 5-4-2 Mountain West) and was credited with an assist.
“She really enjoyed it,” Ambrosio said. “She said as a freshman it’s hard, because you’re competing against seniors for the same position. She was one of the few freshman to play. Only three did, the other five redshirted.
“UNLV didn’t do as well as they hoped, but Hevani got playing time and I’m very proud of her.”
Surf success
Ambosio was one of six players with Surf Soccer Club to sign national letters of intent and three others did so with Division I schools: Hilo’s Saydee Bacdad, Utah Valley University; Hilo’s Jordyn Pacheco, Northern Arizona; and Keaau’s Kierstyn Yamamoto Cal Baptist.
Hawaii Prep’s Emi Higgins is going to Colorado Mines, while Kamehameha senior Kiara Cuyo is heading to Holy Names of the Pacific West Conference.
Cuyo missed time last season with the Warriors with a knee injury. She scored a hat trick in the BIIF opener, but Woodard said she tweaked her injury and would miss more time.
Ambrosio’s mom, Misty, is the president of Surf Soccer Big Island.