The chase is on in Division I soccer

Tribune-Herald

It’s getting crowded at the top in Division I girls soccer.

Mehana Sabado-Halpern, Lolly Higa and Jasmine Smeraglia each scored twice Wednesday as Hilo shut out Keaau 9-0 at Hilo Bayfront to tighten the Big Island Interscholastic Federation race.

The Vikings (5-1-1) hadn’t played since Dec. 21 but are unbeaten in their past five matches as they started off a busy stretch in which they will play three times in four days. Taylor Matas and Evyn-Bree Helekahi-Kaiwi also scored goals, and Alysha Medeiros’ blast from 41 yards out ended the match in the 48th minute. Matas and Smeraglia each added two assists while Delcee Ramos and Savannah Toussaint-Adviento also garnered assists.

Jordyn Breitbarth notched the shutout against the Cougars (3-4-1).

The top four teams in Division I are separated by just three points. Hilo sits in fourth place, but it still controls its destiny to host a BIIF semifinal. First-place Waiakea (6-1-1, 19 points) is in the driver’s seat, a point ahead of Kealakehe (5-1-3), which has only two matches remaining. Konawaena (5-1-2) also controls its own destiny to host a semifinal and ends the regular season with a Jan. 25 trip to Waiakea — the only match remaining between the top four.

Waiakea handed Hilo its only loss of the season, while the Vikings did the same to the Wildcats and Waveriders.

Boys

Makua Lani 9, Parker 0: Kolby Martin scored four goals as the visiting Lions improved to 4-2-1.

James Whalen, Aidan Alcos, DJ Madigan, Sean Vidana and Michael Christensen also scored for Makua Lani, which has a chance to make up ground in the Division II race.

The Lions will travel today to face Hilo in a makeup match, then they host Keaau on Saturday.

Hilo 10, Keaau 2: The host Vikings improved to 6-1-1, while the Cougars fell to 3-6-1. Goal-scorers were not available at press time.