By JOE FERRARO
By JOE FERRARO
Stephens Media
Facing a 1-0 deficit, they experienced some frustration, peppering the Makua Lani goal with a bevy of shots but getting no reward.
However, the words Hawaii Prep coach Steve Perry heard from his players Thursday at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex let him know they wouldn’t self-destruct.
“I kept hearing, ‘There’s a lot of time left. There’s plenty of time,’” Perry said.
That patience paid off for Ka Makani as Gabbie Ewing and Jessica Benioni turned a one-goal deficit into a one-goal lead with goals in the 60th and 61st minutes, and HPA later tacked on an insurance goal to beat Makua Lani 3-1 in a Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II state quarterfinal.
With its victory, Ka Makani (11-1-2) will face Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion Kapaa (7-1-2) at 1 p.m. today in the state semifinals, with the winner advancing to Saturday’s 5 p.m. state final.
“We were getting frustrated that the shots weren’t going in, but I give them credit,” Perry said. “They were pushing and pushing and tried to make something work.”
The Lions (5-9), who will face Oahu Interscholastic Association runner-up Nanakuli (6-8-1) at 3 p.m. today in a fifth-place bracket semifinal, took a 1-0 lead three minutes into the match.
A cross from sophomore Keili Dorn found freshman Sina Easley, who one-touched the ball in for her third goal of the season.
“They played smart (after that goal),” Perry said of Makua Lani “They had a lot of people in the back, and they were frustrating us.”
But HPA broke through in the 60th minute, when freshman Marlie Mandaguit delivered a pass to sophomore Gabbie Ewing, who fired in her sixth goal from 15 yards out.
A minute later, junior Nanea Tavares set up senior Jessica Benioni, who collected her seventh goal of the season and her second go-ahead goal in as many matches.
Tavares capped the scoring in the 75th minute, when she turned a pass from Mandaguit into her ninth goal.
“We held them off as much as we could, and they finally shot through,” Makua Lani coach John Edwards said. “The Makua Lani girls had a huge effort — best game they’ve played all year.”
• Kamehameha-Hawaii 5, Seabury Hall 0: Freshman Kekai Wong-Yuen scored her first two goals of the season as the BIIF Division II runner-up Warriors stayed alive in the double-elimination tournament after losing in the championship bracket on Wednesday.
Senior Kera Akiyama collected her team-high 18th goal, junior Harper Hottendorf bagged her seventh, and junior Sara Kim scored her first for Kamehameha (10-5), which will face BIIF Division II No. 3 seed Honokaa (7-6-1) at 3 p.m. Saturday in the tournament’s seventh-place match.
Seabury Hall, the Maui Interscholastic League champion, ended its season 3-12-1.
• Honokaa 1, Kalaheo 0 (penalty kicks): Because the teams played in a consolation bracket match, the Dragons and Mustangs bypassed overtime and went straight to penalty kicks, with Honokaa beating Kalaheo 3-1.
Seniors Monica Carlos and Kelly Greenwell, and junior Allie Shiraki converted PKs for Honokaa (7-6-1), and Carlos also served as the team’s penalty kick goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper Hailey Paglinawan blanked the Mules (3-10-1), the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s No. 4 seed, in regulation.
Division I
• Kaiser 4, Konawaena 0: Sophomore forward Kai Hasegawa bagged two goals, while senior forward Courtney Okazaki added a goal and an assist for OIA runner-up Kaiser, which knocked BIIF champion Konawaena into consolation play.
Senior Amanda Okihara also scored for the Cougars (13-1-1), which will play the winner of last night’s quarterfinal match between Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion and tournament top seed Iolani and OIA No. 3 seed Moanalua at 5 p.m. today in the state semifinals.
The Wildcats (11-2-1) will play the loser of the Iolani-Moanalua quarterfinal at 3 p.m. today in a fifth-place bracket semifinal.
• Kealakehe 2, Pearl City 0: Sophomore forward Lexie Cuaresma scored in the 35th and 55th minutes, giving her 15 goals on the season as the BIIF runner-up Waveriders (11-2-2) advanced to the tournament’s seventh-place match.
Junior Sulley Schuster shut out OIA No. 4 seed Pearl City (7-4-4) in goal.
Kealakehe will play Maui Interscholastic League runner-up King Kekaulike (11-3-2) at 3 p.m. Saturday.