The effort wasn’t as fluid as coach Gene Okamura might have liked, but Kamehameha once again exhibited a short memory at the HHSAA girls soccer tournament. ADVERTISING The effort wasn’t as fluid as coach Gene Okamura might have liked, but
The effort wasn’t as fluid as coach Gene Okamura might have liked, but Kamehameha once again exhibited a short memory at the HHSAA girls soccer tournament.
Kekai Wong Yuen put home Bryana Ebbers’ second-half corner kick Wednesday at Oahu’s Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex, lifting the Warriors to a 1-0 victory against Seabury Hall to reach the state quarterfinals.
Kamehameha (7-4-1) might be the perpetual BIIF runner-up, losing the last four finals to Hawaii Prep, but it won its opener on Oahu for the third consecutive season.
After a two-year absence, Makua Lani resumed its winning ways in the first round, beating Waianae 3-1 victory to give the Big Island three teams in the quarterfinals
Two-time defending state champion Ka Makani (9-1-1), the top seed, faces the OIA’s Waialua (5-7-1) on Thursday.
After Wong Yuen put Kamehameha ahead in the 45th minute, goalkeeper Cyrene Andaya came up big with a save on a breakaway to preserve the lead.
Andaya was rarely tested beyond that play, but all in all, Okamura would have like to have seen a complete effort against the Spartans (2-9) of Maui.
“We came out a little flat in the first half,” Okamura said. “Hopefully, we got the first-day jitters out of the way.”
The Warriors draw third-seeded Kalaheo (7-4-1), the OIA champion, in the quarterfinals.
The Lions (5-5-1) took a 1-0 lead into halftime on a goal by Jewel Stroud, and Pua Kauhaihao and Akari Shimizu scored in the second half. Nadasia Dakamas scored for the the OIA’s Seariders (2-12-0).
Makua Lani has won it past five state openers, but it’s yet to reach the semifinals in that span. On Thursday in the quarterfinals, the Lions face second-seeded Kapaa (10-1-1) of Kauai.
Division I
Dalles Young-Toledo scored in each half, and Ashley Nakoa-Kawahakui and Emma Knott added goals as the OIA’s Campbell (10-4-1) shut out BIIF runner-up Waiakea 4-0.
After a bye, BIIF champion Hilo (11-0-0), the third seed, faces Pearl City in Thursday’s quarterfinals. The Chargers (13-1-0) bested OIA rival Kapolei 4-1.
In a consolation match, the Warriors (7-4-1) will take on the OIA’s Moanalua, which lost 7-0 to Kamehameha-Kapalama.
