Whether this version of Waiakea’s girls soccer team knew it not, the program was due some good fortune.
It came in the form of Charlie Silva’s header.
A postseason break finally came the Warriors’ way Wednesday when Silva scored in double overtime, securing a 2-1 win against Kealakehe at Ken Yamase Memorial Stadium and a spot in the BIIF Division I championship.
Winners of four in a row, Waiakea (4-2) advances to face Hilo High (4-1-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Kamehameha’s Paiea Stadium, where the Warriors will try to win their first title. In the other semifinal Wednesday, the Vikings beat Konawaena 4-2, getting a hat trick from Briana-Jean Tanaka, who also had an assist,
Waiakea made three consecutive title game appearances from 2015-17, losing via penalty kicks to Konawaena in 2015 and Hilo in 2017.
The Warriors didn’t let it get that far this time, with Silva heading home Jayda Cuevas-Varize’s corner kick.
The semifinal was more competitive than the last time the two teams met, Waiakea’s 4-1 victory Jan. 29. Naia Garana scored for the Waveriders (2-2-2), who haven’t been to the HHSAA Division I tournament since 2013.
Kiralyn Kuramoto opened the scoring by converting a penalty kick for Waiakea, which returns to the state tournament for the first time in five years. Hilo earned a state berth for the sixth consecutive year.
The last time the Warriors and Vikings met in the postseason was the 2020 semifinals. Hilo extended Waiakea’s run of bad playoff luck with a golden goal.
Courtesy of Silva, it was Waiakea’s turn Wednesday.
At Hilo Bayfront, Tanaka scored twice in the first four minutes to set the tone.
The Wildcats (0-6) got a boost with the return of Caiya Hanks, who played for the first time during her senior season and scored a goal that cut Konawaena’s deficit to 3-2 in the 24th minute. Tanaka completed her hat trick just before halftime.
Aza Ramos Kidder also scored for Konawaena, making it 2-1, but Lindsey Hiraki connected from 30 yards out for the Vikings after collecting Tanaka’s corner kick.
During the regular season, Hilo beat Waiakea 3-2. Saturday’s loser will host an HHSAA first-round game Monday, Feb. 21, with the winner moving directly to Oahu for the quarterfinals, which are Thursday, Feb. 24.
