Hilo High’s girls soccer team was an underdog with a one-goal second half lead once again.
The Vikings and their fans were buzzing Monday at Hilo Bayfront when Kylie Kalauli scored, putting what would have been a monumental victory into view.
It was about that time that a coach on the Pearl City side issued a stern warning: Girls, wake up.
The Chargers did, scoring three times in a 13-minute span, ending Hilo’s season with a 3-1 victory in the first round of the HHSAA Division I tournament.
“I think they had just a little bit bigger push toward the end, and we kind of fell off,” Vikings coach Skee Saplan said.
But Hilo’s season won’t be defined by lack of push.
What figured to be a rebuilding season became even harder when at least two players who were counted on to make big contributions were lost to injury, but the Vikings (7-7-1) upset Waiakea in the semifinals to reach their fifth consecutive state tournament and pushed Konawaena for a half before losing 3-1 in the BIIF final.
Nine days later, this Hilo squad came as close to earning the school’s first triumph in the winner’s bracket of the state tournament than any of its more experienced predecessors.
“I’m not putting anything past them, but to be where we are right now, to be playing in this first round, it’s a testament to their collective hard work and not wanting to give up,” Saplan said.
Goalkeeper Kali’u Boteilho made nine saves, including a fine stop to deny Kaila Takai to keep the match scoreless early in the second half.
Kalauli scored in the 52nd minute off an assist from Anaseini Sipinga to put Hilo in front, but the Chargers (11-3-1), the OIA’s No. 5 team, the answered with goals from Ysabel Aburto (59th minute), Chanyn Santos (65th) and Caylie Uyema (71st).
“It come to an end, but big props to (senior) Booboo (Corpuz) for sticking it out and working until the end,” Saplan said. “She played all over.
“The thing we want to do here is always be contending. This year, it was terrific that we were contending again. Next year we want to do it again, but it’s about what kind of work we do in the offseason.”