KEAAU – During his job interview before the season, Hawaii Prep boys soccer coach Adam Christodoulou almost wondered what he was getting himself into.
Looking at all the championship banners hanging at Castle Gymnasium in Waimea, he asked athletic director Stephen Perry if he was inheriting a program with unrealistic expectations.
“He said it’s not about winning and losing, it’s about how we play,” Christodoulou said.
And how Ka Makani play is still the definition of success in BIIF Division II, so get ready to hang another banner.
HPA took Kamehameha’s best shot during a spirited first half Saturday, and responded with a 2-1 victory at Paiea Stadium to seize the program’s six consecutive league title.
“It feels amazing,” said senior Aidan Santos.” Honestly, I’m speechless, I can’t put it into words right now.”
Christodoulou, a former college coach, is not a fan of when other coaches proclaim their team won a match because it “wanted it more.” It was clear to him the Warriors and Ka Makani wanted the crown equally.
“It was a very even battle,” Christodoulou said. “As a coach, it was good to see. Some of it bubbled over, but for the most part it was high energy.”
So what put HPA over the top?
“We just wanted to put it away as fast as we could, and it worked against us,” Santos said. “We preached patience and it showed. We got what we came for. All the seniors, this means so much to us.
Much like the BIIF semifinal, Ka Makani didn’t get going until the second half.
Mason Hunt scored the equalizer on a goal that was initially appeared to have been waived off before being restored. Santos corralled a shot that hit the crossbar, and — whether he meant to shoot or pass — the ball ended up on the right place: Hunt’s foot.
Justin Heilmann scored the go-ahead goal, taking a pass from Ben Kubo, taking a step and firing high into the net.
“We faced a lot of adversity,” Heilmann said. “People said we could’t do it. People say that we were washed up.
“It was a dog fight. We came out swinging and we showed everyone that we were D-II champs.”
Christodoulou credited Kamehameha with taking HPA out of is game plan in the first half.
Elijah Dinkel netted his 17th goal of he season, converting a penalty kick after Lucas Kay Wong drew a foul in the penalty box.
“I think we executed our game plan fairly well,” Warriors coach Gene Okamura said. “They did a good job of capitalizing on their opportunities.”
The teams could meet again at the HHSAA championships, March 3-5 on Oahu. Ka Makani have won the past three state D-II tournaments they participated in with the Warriors grabbing one in 2018 when HPA shared a crown in D-I.
“We could definitely see Kamehameha again,” Santos said.
After receiving their medals, Ka Makani said a chant with their alumni, the words of which neither Heilmann nor Santos could spell.
“That’s what get’s us amped up, that’s what channels our energy,” Heilmann said.
For accuracy sake, just spell it: W-e a-r-e t-h-e c-h-a-m-p-i-o-n-s.
Again.