KEALAKEKUA — Konawaena is back in the BIIF Division I title game for the second straight year after beating Waiakea on Monday afternoon at Julian Yates Field.
Led by a shutdown defense and goals from freshman Caiya Hanks and senior Nanea Wall, the Wildcats dropped the Warriors 3-0.
Waiakea knocked out Konawaena in the semifinals in both 2016 and 2017, so the win provided a bit of revenge for the juniors and seniors on the team.
“Waiakea came out ready to play,” Wildcats head coach Kaua Wall said. “Every player did their part for us to pick up the win.”
The Wildcats (10-3-1) will take on three-time champion Hilo (13-0-1) in the championship match. Konawaena is seeking its first league title since 2015, and the Vikings have gotten the best of the Wildcats over the past two seasons.
In the 2018 title tilt, the Vikings defeated the Wildcats 4-0. Hilo has defeated Konawaena 4-1 and 2-0 this season.
“We are excited we get a third try at Hilo this season,” Kaua Wall said. “We want to improve on our last two games, learn from our mistakes and give it all we have.”
Konawaena jumped out to a 1-0 lead over Waiakea with just under 14 minutes remaining in the first half of their BIIF semifinal game. After a Waiakea player successfully blocked a scoring opportunity for the Wildcats, the ball rebounded to junior Zane Garrigan, who sent a shot into the corner of the net.
“That goal was a big turning point for us,” Kaua Wall said. “We got our confidence and kind of settled down.”
Garrigan is a versatile player, who gives Konawaena a lot of options up top.
“She can go anywhere on offense,” Kaua Wall said. “Have have put her in so many spots and she excels in every one of them.”
Picking up the eventual winning goal of the contest meant a lot to the junior.
“We work so hard at practice and I love my team,” Garrigan said. “It just feels good.”
Early in the first half, the game was a battle in the midfield before Konawaena took over possession for the final 15 minutes of the half.
The second half reflected the first with the Wildcats coming on strong late.
Konawaena nearly scored around the 60th minute when Garrigan sent a cross into Nanea Wall, who collided with Waiakea keeper Tiani Kow, while attempting a header. She was not able to get much on the ball and it rolled harmlessly out of bounds.
Four minutes later Konawaena earned an insurance goal when Hanks turned in the center of the pitch and sent a high bullet torward the net from 25 yards out. Kow got a hand on the ball but could not deflect it enough. The ball zipped past her, finding the net for a 2-0 Wildcats lead.
“Caiya is so dangerous. When she has the ball anything can happen,” Kaua Wall said. “From close, from far, I am just so happy she got one in. She is a hard worker and she has a great touch.”
For Hanks, taking the shot from far out was a necessary chance at helping her team build a lead.
“We were talking before the game ‘if you don’t shoot it, you won’t make it,’” she said. “So I was just like, why not, and I shot it and it dropped in perfectly.”
Konawaena picked up one more goal at the nine minute mark when a shot by Nanea Wall went off the foot of Waiakea’s Kalena Kekaualua and into the net for an own goal.
Despite what appeared to be a somewhat easy win, the Wildcats struggled to contain Waiakea captain Jacelyn Cambra.
“She is definitely the heart of their team and every time we play them she plays very well,” Kaua Wall said. “We worked on winning challenges and keeping everything on the ground and that helped contain her.”
Junior Kyanah Blas picked up the shutout in the net for Konawaena.
Along with the BIIF title shot, the win also earned the Wildcats a state berth, helping them prolong their season.
“I get to spend more time with my teammates and the seniors get to play more games, that is what is most important to me,” Hanks said. “This has been a roller coaster of a season, but also a great one. All the girls have each other’s back and we will push to the end for each other.”
Hilo 4, Kealakehe 0: The three-time defending BIIF champ Vikings extended their shutout streak to 12 matches as they rolled at Hilo Bayfront to reach the championship match.
Hilo (13-0-1) jumped out to 2-0 lead in the first six minutes thanks to in-close goals by Nanea Moke-Rabang and Haley Miyasato, each scoring off a cross from Hollie Saplan, who has generated 14 assists this season.
In the second half, Jordyn Pacheco headed home Moke-Rabang’s cross for her 18th goal of the season, and Miya Clarke netted her 19th a minute later.
Saydee Bacdad and Kali’u Boteilho each had a hand in shutting out the Waveriders, who finished the season 4-10.
Division I playoffs
Monday’s semifinals
Hilo 4, Kealakahe 0
Konawaena 3, Waiakea 0
Wednesday’s championship
At Kamehameha
No. 2 Konawaena (10-3-1) vs. No. 1 Hilo (13-0-1), 7 p.m.