Konawaenas boys soccer team picked an opportune time for its best result of the season.
Konawaena’s boys soccer team picked an opportune time for its best result of the season.
The Wildcats shut out Honokaa 3-0 on Tuesday at the Dragons’ field in the first round of the BIIF Division II playoffs.
Konawaena (5-7), which lost 2-1 at Honokaa during the regular season, now has two chances to reach the HHSAA tournament for the first time since 2013. The preferred route is Thursday’s 3 p.m. semifinal at No. 1 Hawaii Prep, but there also will be a third-place match Feb. 4 for the BIIF’s final berth at the state tournament.
The Dragons (4-7-1) miss the state tournament for the second consecutive season.
Thursday’s other semifinal matches third-seeded Kamehameha and No. 2 Makua Lani in a rematch of last season’s BIIF final, which the Warriors won to earn a repeat.
The Warriors (8-3-1) took care of business Tuesday, ousting Kohala 7-0. Buddy Betts and Poikeao Roback each scored two goals, Logan Waltjen collected a goal and three assists, Ethan Shimabukuro added a goal and an assist and Cuinn Cariaga also scored.
The Lions (8-3) beat Kamehameha 3-1 on the road in the regular season. Makua Lani hasn’t won a BIIF title since 2007.
In Thursday’s Konawaena-HPA match, Ka Makani (8-3) will look to advance to the BIIF final for the seventh consecutive year. They’ve won four consecutive titles, two in D-II and the past two in D-I.
On Jan. 8, HPA beat the Wildcats 5-0 in Waimea.
