KEAAU – It was just two seasons ago that Christian Liberty enjoyed a goal-fest against Hilo, scoring eight times and handing the Vikings one of their worst defeats in recent memory.
KEAAU – It was just two seasons ago that Christian Liberty enjoyed a goal-fest against Hilo, scoring eight times and handing the Vikings one of their worst defeats in recent memory.
On Tuesday when the BIIF boys soccer teams matched up again, the Canefire had much more modest goals. They simply hoped to extend the match into the second half – they did – and score for the first times this season – they didn’t, losing 9-0.
In short order, coach Troy Rimel has gone from guiding a perennial Division II contender to searching for moral victories, but he insists there is an upside, whispering, “less pressure.”
He added, in a normal tone: “This is a great group of kids. I’m having a blast.”
The Canefire were once the little engine that could in boys soccer, reaching the BIIF finals four times during a five-year span from 2010-2014. They were denied each time, with three of the losses coming in painfully agonizing fashion. If there was a team that deserved a dose of good karma, it figured to be Christian Liberty.
Instead, it’s seen a numbers’ crunch.
When they were a contender, the Canefire regularly had 40-some males in the high school, and roughly half played soccer. These days, there are 43 students total in grades 9-12.
Rimel, also the school principal, considered shutting down the program shortly before the season, but ultimately the Canefire decided to make do with a 16-player roster that includes six females.
“It’s been really enjoyable, even though we’re getting TKO’d,” Rimel said. “We do have expectations, we want to to see improvement and develop, not only soccer-wide buy character-wise.
“The girls really like playing against the boys better than the girls.”
The Canefire (0-5-1) started three girls against the Division I Vikings (5-2-0), and their lineup has featured as many as four or five at times this season.
Senior goalkeeper Taylor Feato has earned praise from opposing coaches, and the decision to go coed has allowed Rimel to coach his daughter, senior Joy Rimel, before she heads off to college.
“Taylor was apprehensive, but we had a talk with her and she’s the first female goalkeeper I’ve seen play for a boys team in my time,” Troy Rimel said. “She reads the ball incredibly well.”
Against Hilo, she didn’t stand much of a chance. Kalei Tolentino-Perry collected a hat trick, River Brown scored twice and Barrett Baca, Riley Patterson, Jonah Kim and Aris Aynessazian also had goals. Ka’aina Lewis got credit for a shutout, though he wasn’t often tested.
The closest the Canefire have come to scoring this season came when Nicolino Keen hit the post against Pahoa in a game that ended in a scoreless draw.
Rimel knows that if the Canefire are going to rekindle their glory years, they’ll have to reconnect with their feeder system in the middle school.
“It’s kind of my own fault, but we didn’t have have time to work with the younger grades,” he said. “I think we’re going to make a commitment to keep it going and keep working with them again.”
Honokaa 5, Parker 1: The Bulls’ Owen Matsuda opened the scoring in the 30th minute, but Kauiki Feliciano answered with a hat trick as the Dragons broke open a match that was tied at halftime in Waimea.
Kekeaweiwi Pilayo assisted on Feliciano’s third goal in the 44th minute, and Feliciano’s set up Pilayo’s score in the 66th minute. Sean Simmerman finished with a goal and an assist for Honokaa (6-1-0).
The Bulls (3-1-0) suffered their first loss.
Waiakea 9, Pahoa 0: Max Adolf recorded his second consecutive hat trick, and Michael Scott and Gehrig Octavio also scored three goals each to fuel the visiting Warriors (4-2-0).
Ryan Quitoriano earned the shut out against the Daggers (0-6-1),
Girls
Waiakea 9, Pahoa: Kiano Serrao, Nayah Robertson and Starcia DePonte scored two goals apiece as the visiting Warriors remained perfect at 5-0-0.
Jasmine Early, Cecila Jeschke and Cierra Toledo-Muragin also scored, and Kaira Chang and Tiani Kow each had a hand in the shutout against the Daggers (0-4-0).