KEALAKEKUA — The Hilo girls soccer team proved their early season hot streak is no fluke with a 2-1 road win over defending BIIF Division I champion Konawaena on Saturday evening.
KEALAKEKUA — The Hilo girls soccer team proved their early season hot streak is no fluke with a 2-1 road win over defending BIIF Division I champion Konawaena on Saturday evening.
The Vikings have also knocked off defending Division I state champion Hawaii Preparatory Academy and Division II contender Kamehameha-Hawaii so far this season.
“Whenever you have a good start like we have had you feel like you have a big bulls-eye and we feel like we have to defend ourselves,” said Hilo head coach Skee Saplan. “The girls work hard and we are playing with a lot of heart and determination.”
Both teams had several chances to score first. Hilo’s Jasmine Smeraglia had an opportunity to put her team up three minutes into the game with a 25-yard shot from the center of the pitch, but Konawaena keeper Taiana Tolleson made a sliding save. The Wildcats followed that up with two corner kicks, but could not convert.
After another Vikings attempt on goal, Konawaena went into counterattack mode. A booming kick by Tolleson set the scoring play in motion. A pass just past midfield found Nanea Wall, who dribbled the ball down the right side of the pitch. From outside the 18, she sent a cross into Nalani Wall, who headed the ball past Hilo keeper Ashley Mendes for a 1-0 lead with 23:48 remaining in the first half.
The Wildcats had another great opportunity to score four minutes later when Nalani Wall broke free down the right side of the pitch. With a step on her defender she sent a shot in from just outside the 18, but the ball sailed wide right.
As the clock ticked down in the first half, the Hilo offense started to pick up. Controlling most of the possession for the final 10 minutes, the Vikings managed to tie the game at 1-1 when Hollie Saplan took the ball in a crowded box and and took a shot from the right side which went past the a diving Tolleson and into the bottom left corner of the net.
The game returned to a back-and-forth battle to open the second half.
With 25 minutes to play Hilo nearly took the lead. Haley Miyasato broke free from the Konawaena defense and had a 1-on-1 with the keeper. Tolleson came out of goal and met Miyasato just inside the 18, blocking the shot with her legs. The ball bounced to Jordyn Pacheco, who’s kick flew over the open net.
Only a minute and a half later, the Vikings were back in attack mode and picked up a penalty inside the Wildcats’ box after a tackle from behind by a Konawaena defender. Smeraglia took the penalty kick. Tolleson guessed correctly the direction on the shot, but could not get down quick enough as Smeraglia put Hilo up 2-1.
For Smeraglia, only one thought passed through her head as she set up for the kick.
“I need to make this in. I just looked at the ball and shot the way I always go,” Smeraglia said. “We played awesome and were gelling really well. We made a lot of passes and just wanted it more.”
With time running out, Konawaena tried to push the ball up-field but every run was met with a Hilo defensive wall. The Wildcats would not be able to get a shot on goal.
Hawaii Prep 9, Keaau 0: Marlie Mandguit assisted on the first three goals of the match – two to Emi Higgins – and the senior scored two of her in own in Waimea as Ka Makani led 7-0 at halftime.
Higgins, a freshman, completed her hat trick and ended the match in the 45th minute.
Kaui Taylor scored twice for HPA (1-1) and Jordan Zarate and Rowan Kotner added goals.
Taimane Kamaka and Sakura Remsen each played goalkeeper in shutting out the Cougars (0-1-1).
Waiakea 5, Kealakehe 0: Cierra Toledo-Muragin completed a hat trick midway through the second half as the Warriors (2-0) won at Waverider Stadium.
Starcia Lee-Deponte found the back of the net in the first half and Kaira Chang made the score 4-0 in the second half.
Chang, Tiani Kow and Nayah Robertson all saw time in goal against the Waveriders, who fell to 0-3.
Boys
Hilo 2, Konawaena 0: The Vikings (2-1) made it a clean sweep at Julian Yates Field.
Hilo’s River Brown put his team up 1-0 with a goal midway through the first half. Kai Garson-Shumway added the second goal with 22:30 to play in the second half.
Kealakehe 7, Waiakea 0: Laukoa Santos netted a natural hat trick to open the scoring for Kealakehe, and added a fourth for good measure as the Waveriders came away with a lopsided win over the visiting Warriors.
Matt Castro, James Caudell and Jonah Palakiko also tallied goals for the undefeated Waveriders (3-0).
Greyson Moore recorded the shutout against the Warriors (1-1).
Makua Lani 8, Ka’u 0: DJ Madigan scored five goals and the Lions opened their season with a victory in Pahala.
Taylor Warnecke, Taylor Veisauyadra and Reyn Newton also scored for Makua Lani.
Emmett Alcos and Jonah Marks each had a hand in the shut out of the Trojans (0-3).
Hawaii Prep 9, Keaau 0: Zen Simone netted a hat trick as host Ka Makani improved to 2-0.
Justin Perry, Kama Morrison, Brendon Moynahan, Noah Wise, Austin Schneider and Toby Balaam added goals. The passing was crisp, coach Rich Braithwaite said, with Mateo Batol collected a few nifty assissts.
Trent Wise and Stormer Horton split halves in goal against the Cougars (1-1).