Konawaena girls coach Kaua Wall doesn’t have any sisters to rely on this season.
That’s OK, she said – five seniors play the role of soccer siblings and keep the Wildcats close and on their toes.
Jadyn Hanks and Avrie Salinas-Gouveia scored goals Saturday as the Konawaena looked the part of BIIF Division I girls soccer favorite, beating Waiakea 2-0 at Ken Yamase Memorial Stadium.
Wall was quick to praise her seniors: Hanks, who scored on a breakaway, goalkeeper Kyanah Blas, Zane Garrigan, Jaymie Kunitomo and Karenza Chavez.
“They bring a lot of experience, they play all year along, they bring dedication, commitment and leadership,” Wall said.
She’s the oldest of six siblings, and among the four departed seniors from the squad that wrestled the BIIF title away from Hilo last season is Nanea Wall, who recently completed a fine freshman season at UH-Hilo. Two seasons ago, Kaua Wall also coached Nanani Wall, who played all in 17 games during all her sophomore season at Fresno Pacific.
‘There’s still one more on the way,” Kaua Wall said, pointing to Uhiwai Wall, an eighth-grader and the team manger.
Blas made up for any defensive lapses by aggressively charging out of the net to cut down Warriors’ scoring threats, and Salinas-Gouveia’s goal came on a header for the Wildcats (2-0), who are enjoying playing with a target on their backs. The past three seasons, everyone was chasing Hilo.
“We like pushing ourselves and practices have been very intense,” Kaua Wall said
The Warriors (1-1) have a new coach – Steve Petner, who formally of Kamehameha-Hawaii – for the third consecutive season. In fact, Petner’s seniors told him he is their sixth coach during their time at Waiakea.
“Hopefully, I can bring them some stability their final year,” he said. “It’s a process, we’re still learning to play with each other.”
When Makua Lani didn’t have the numbers to field a girls team this season, the BIIF went to a home-and-away format for divisional foes, and one of the quirks of the schedule is that Waiakea (1-1) and Konawaena will turn around and play again Tuesday in Kealakekua.
“It’s just like tournaments-style format,” Wall said. “It will show us how well we’ve prepared.”
Hawaii Prep 3, Hilo 1
Isabella Police scored bookend goal in the ninth and 79th minute at Hilo Bayfront, and Ka Makani won their season-opener.
The Vikings (1-1) allowed an own goal in the 30th minute, and they trailed 2-1 at halftime after Kylie Kalauli scored from 5 yards out off a cross from Booboo Corpuz.
Boys
Hawaii Prep 1, Hilo 0
Conor Hunt scored his third goal of the season in the first half off an assist from Noah Balaam as visiting HPA improved to 2-0.
Goalkeeper Zane Willman shut out the Vikings in their opener.
Waiakea 2, Konawaena 0
John Grover netted his fifth and six goals of the season as the host Warriors moved to 2-0.
Goalkeeper Jeremy Spain was credited with the shut out of the Wildcats (0-2).
In other boys matches, Kohala beat Christian Liberty 9-0 and Kamehameha defeated Ka’u 9-0. Kamehameha’s girls also beat Ka’u 9-0.
