It came in the American Youth Soccer Organization and not the BIIF, but Honokaa coach Maurice Miranda will take a win against a team named Kealakehe anytime he can get it.
It came in the American Youth Soccer Organization and not the BIIF, but Honokaa coach Maurice Miranda will take a win against a team named Kealakehe anytime he can get it.
Better yet, he’s seeing myriad reasons to hold high hopes once the high school season roll along.
Kauiki Feliciano scored early in the second half Saturday to give the Dragons a three-goal lead, and they survived a charge from Kealakehe to win 3-2 and remain in title contention in the under-19 division at the Big Island Candies AYSO Volcano International Soccer Tournament.
“I told them at halftime to go get that third goal because that’s the big one,” Miranda said. “They get it right away, and they just sit back and let (Kealakehe) run at them.”
Josiah Rodrigues and Riley Hiatt netted goals in the first half for the Dragons, and Ian Denzer and Jonah Palakiko scored to almost help the Waveriders roar back.
“Lots of spirit at the end,” Kealakehe coach Alden Sawada said. “That was a good sign. Kind of played lazy in the first half.”
The Dragons evened their tournament record at 1-1, earlier losing 1-0 after giving up a late goal to Rush 99, which is 2-0 and owns a spot in Sunday’s 3 p.m. final. Kealakehe (0-1-1) and Hilo Thunder (0-1-1) played to a 3-3 draw. The Dragons can secure a spot in the final with a win Sunday morning against Hilo Thunder.
Of course, the Dragons’ victory Saturday didn’t come close to matching the drama or excitement of Jan. 27, 2012 – the date of the Kealakehe boys last BIIF defeat, at 1-0 loss at Honokaa, which went on to capture its second consecutive HHSAA Division II championship.
Miranda said the Dragons took a step to getting back to that level during a summer league season in which it lost only once, and now at Volcano. He’s carrying a few players from other high schools (Hawaii Prep and Parker) as well as some U14 players.
“I’m trying to figure out who is going to be out there (in BIIF play),” Miranda said. “Kamuela Boneza and Oshen Nobriga. Last year was their first year of high school soccer. This gives them more play, and they’re really coming along as right and left defenders.”
Isaac Aguilar, Micah Miranda and Daneau Domingo already have more seasoning, and Maurice Miranda said Feliciano is poised to become a star during his senior season.
“He’s gotten stronger, he’s gotten faster,” Miranda said. “He’s like a donkey with a carrot. You put a soccer ball in front of him, he gets faster.”
Sawada also focuses far more on development than wins and losses during the summer, mixing in students in grades 7-9 with older ones. He said he brings a team to the Volcano tourney roughly every two years, though this is the first time he’s doing it as the Kealakehe High coach. Sawada is taking the reins from Urs Leuenberger, who left after leading the Waveriders to their fifth consecutive BIIF crown.
“I like the way we played in the last 15 minutes,” Sawada said. “The second half, the kids coached themselves. No matter how much yelling I did, it wasn’t helping.”
In girls play, Waiakea (3-0) beat Hilo and Kona by identical 2-1 scores and will meet Maui’s Excel at 1:30 p.m. in Sunday’s final. Excel (2-1) rebounded from a 5-0 loss to Waiakea on Friday, edging Hilo 2-1 and Kona 3-2.