After taking its lumps against its rival for four years running, Waiakea’s girls soccer team is turning the tables.
Not that first-year coach Steve Petner is ready to take a bow yet or anything.
Maya Atwal scored twice Thursday and the Warriors’ defense played air tight again in a thorough 4-0 victory against Hilo in a BIIF Division I match at Ken Yamase Memorial Stadium.
“It was just that, a team effort,” Warriors coach Steve Petner said. “Everyone contributed today.”
Atwal’s goals came off set pieces. In the 22nd minute, the junior received a direct kick and scored from 8 yards out, and her goal in the 51st minute to cap the scoring came from 6 yards out after she corralled a corner kick.
Zadelyn Ferreira-Kawai scored in the 18th minute on a breakaway and Keilee Silva’s goal in the 47th minute also came on a 6-yarder after a corner kick.
The match was moved from waterlogged Hilo Bayfront earlier in the day, and the result all but assures the team’s third meeting this season in the BIIF semifinals Jan. 22 also will be held on the field turf at Waiakea.
The Warriors (6-2-1) are unbeaten in their past six matches, perfect in their past five and goalkeeper Jayleen Andaya and company are haven’t allowed a goal in four consecutive matches, including a 2-0 win against the Vikings (5-5-1) on Dec. 28 at Waiakea.
Hilo, as expected, is going through a rebuilding year after losing eight four-year contributors to graduation.
“We know that there is still a lot of soccer left in these next couple of weeks, so we have to continue to work hard at practice to try to keep getting better,” Petner said. “If the girls do that, then we can’t ask for anything more.”
Boys
Waiakea 4, Kohala 0: Kai Biegler scored twice as the Warriors geared up for the stretch run with a win in Kapaau.
Riley Tamanaha and Javier Cuevas also netted goals for Waiakea (7-1-1), which hits the road again Saturday with a match at Kealakehe that carries home-field implications for the semifinals. The Warriors moved four points ahead of the Waveriders (6-2) and Hilo (6-1) in first place in the Division I standings but have played two more matches than the Vikings. On Tuesday, Waiakea hosts Hawaii Prep to finish its regular season.
Waiakea’s Jeremy Spain and Raiven Chinen shared in the shutout of the Cowboys (3-4-1).
Makua Lani 9, Keaau 0: Isaiah Easley and Kalae Mills each scored twice as the host Lions moved into a first-place tie in D-II with HPA with 18 points.
Josh Luth, Kaelele Fernandez, RJ Luea, Kawaihua Paikuli-Campbell and Tim Catanzaro also scored goals for Makua Lani (6-2), which has played on more match than Ka Makani. HPA beat the Lions at the start of the regular season.
Luea was credited with the shutout of the Cougars (0-8).
Kamehameha 9, Christian Liberty 0: Buddy Betts recorded a hat trick and assisted on two other goals at Paiea Stadium as the Warriors pulled away by scoring seven times in the second half.
Logan Waltjen added two goals as Kamehameha (5-3-1) won for the third time in four matches, Ethan Shimabukuro collected a goal and an assist and Chris Knell, Kanaka Kuamoo-Quihano and Kamanakai Paikuli also scored a goal apiece.
Connor Mondina and Jake Toci shared in the shutout against the Canefire (1-4).