Each of his three booming kicks were hit with laser-like precision, but it was Laukoa Santos’ final one that was a true work of beauty.
Each of his three booming kicks were hit with laser-like precision, but it was Laukoa Santos’ final one that was a true work of beauty.
From 30 yards out just left of center, the Kealakehe junior used Hilo’s wall as a shield, tucking the ball far post in the upper right corner, completing a hat trick.
“Indefensible,” Vikings coach George Ichimaru said. “Hitting the top right corner of the goal is nearly impossible.”
Until further notice, the Waveriders remain unbeatable.
Santos blasted open a tight match with three goals in the first half Saturday, and Kealakehe beat the Vikings 6-3 in a rematch of the last three BIIF Division I finals.
“It cannot get any better,” Kealakehe coach Urs Leuenberger said. “His shots, after a lot of practice, practice, practice, they hit the target.
“If you give us a foul, then he will punish.”
The skies opened up at Hilo Bayfront just minutes before kickoff, and the wet conditions were ostensibly in the Vikings’ favor. But in BIIF boys soccer, it’s still four-time defending champion Kealakehe’s world thanks to performers such as Santos, the reigning league Player of the Year.
“I’ve been working on (shots) a lot in training, just me by myself in the park,” Santos said. “I live right behind the park. I’m constantly at the field.”
He said each of his three goals – two came off direct kicks and another came when he took a ball on the run and cut it back from about 25 yards out– ended up precisely where he wanted to place them.
His first goal off a set piece from 26 yards away gave Kealakehe (4-0-0) a 2-1 lead, but it was his 30-yarder, which put the Waveriders ahead by four goals, that was his favorite.
“The far post one is a really hard shot to block, because (the goalkeeper) can’t see the ball until it’s past the wall,” he said. “Like .5 seconds to react.”
The match featured ebbs and flows and spirited surges from Hilo (2-2-0).
Kealakehe’s Alexander Grace-Double scored in the first five minutes. After the Waveriders’ Tate Whitney hit the post, the Vikings raised their attack, resulting in a goal from Tyler Thompson.
Josh Lopez netted a goal off a cross for the Waveriders, but Santos’ surge aside, if it’s possible for a team to be trailing 5-1 at the half yet still be playing well, then the Vikings accomplished the feat.
“The first competition we’ve had this year,” Leuenberger said. “Hilo was a formidable opponent.
“My boys we’re probably a little too comfortable with a 5-1 lead, and Hilo made it uncomfortable for us.”
Hilo carried play during the first 20 minutes of the second half and used the advantage to draw closer on goals by Jace Taka and River Brown.
Kealakehe added another insurance goal when Ari Mench tapped home a loose ball after Santos took a corner kick.
When the coaches met at midfield, they talked about their teams scrimmaging in West Hawaii during the holiday break to keep sharp. In the back of their minds, they probably thought about meeting up again in the BIIF finals.
If so, the Vikings can take heart that they managed to score three goals against Kealakehe. The Waveriders haven’t allowed three in a match many times, if at all, since a 3-1 loss to Waiakea in the 2011 BIIF semifinals.
These days, side notes like that have to suffice as small victories against Kealakehe.
“We had good momentum and developed some run of play,” Ichimaru said. “We made some adjustments in the second half. Clearly, we need to be more precise in front of the goal.
“When we get our chances, take them. When Laukoa hits it, he hits it. I told my players, just go to goal. Take it to them.”
Kamehameha 2, Hawaii Prep 1: Isaiah Lahea scored in the first half, running down a through ball from Tyler Waltjen, and Liam Kenoi added another in the second half at Paiea Stadium in Keaau as the Warriors surprised Ka Makani.
Austin Schneider cut the deficit with a goal for HPA (2-1-0), but coach Mario Patino credited goalkeeper Jameson Sato with keeping Kamehameha (2-1-0) in the match.
“He made three or four saves from point-blank range,” Patino said.
The match was a big turnaround for the Warriors, who lost 4-0 at Honokaa on Dec. 11.
“We had some tactical sessions,” Patino said. “We made some some adjustments in the midfield and defensive area.”
Konawaena 4, Keaau 0: Kupaa Fernandez recorded a hat trick and the visiting Wildcats won their second match in a row by a shutout.
Logan Takizawa scored for a second consecutive match.
The Cougars fell to 1-3-0.
Honokaa 8, Christian Liberty 0: Isaac Aguilar collected two goals as the host Dragons improved to 3-1-0.
Kauiki Feliciano, Micah Miranda, Zechariah Ugalde, Kekeaweiwi Pilayo, Trueston Andrare and Rylee Yagong also scored for Honokaa and Maikai Kunishige collected the shutout.
Dragons coach Maurice Miranda said female goalkeeper Taylor Feato played well for the Canefire (0-2-1), stopping a penalty kick.
Kohala 1, Ka’u 1: The Trojans earned their first point of the season with a draw in Pahala.
Isaiah Moreno found the back of the net for the Cowboys (1-3-1) and Trevor Taylor scored for Ka’u (0-4-1).
Girls
Hawaii Prep 2, Kamehameha 0: Teah Van Bergen and Kaui Taylor scored for Ka Makani (2-1-0), which earned a key road win in the Division II race.
Taimane Kamaka shut out the Warriors (1-2-0).
“Excellent job by Taimane,” coach Steve Perry said, “especially in the first half. Best game of season for her. She made a couple big saves in st half until we settled into the game.”
He also credited Erin Evans, Julia Perry, Jordan Grainger and Van Bergen with helping HPA keep its sheet clean.
“Jordan Zarate had an excellent game with her energy and presence up top,” Perry said. “She covered a lot of ground up there and kept pressure on the back line of (Kamehameha) throughout.”
Hilo 9, Kealakehe 0: Freshman Jordyn Pacheco tallied a hat trick with a goal in the 37th minute, and the Vikings needed only 52 minutes to put away the at Hilo Bayfront.
Alyeemomi Amaral garnered two goals and two assists, Haley Miyasato tallied two goals and one assist, and Miya Clark and Lacey Shiigi also scored for Hilo, which heads to the new year at 5-0-0.
Sadee Bacdad made three saves against the Waveriders (0-0-4).
Konawaena 5, Keaau 0: The three-time defending champion Wildcats have a winning record for the first time this season after Nalani Wall and Melina Ramirez each scored twice on the Cougars’ field.
Keliyah Kimitete also scored for Konawaena (3-2-0), which secured its third shutout of the season.