KEAAU – Some used the term “park the bus” to describe Kamehameha’s style last season, but don’t count Warriors boys coach Mario Patino among them.
KEAAU – Some used the term “park the bus” to describe Kamehameha’s style last season, but don’t count Warriors boys coach Mario Patino among them.
Sitting back defensively at times is just good soccer strategy, he said. And if the opponent gets irritated, all the better.
“We want to score, but we also know how to frustrate them,” Patino said. “If we can play our mental game and get underneath the opponent’s skin, that’s an advantage, too.”
It’s hard to argue with the results.
Kamehameha annoyed even the best BIIF teams last season. Hawaii Prep, the eventual HHSAA Division II champion, dominated possession against the Warriors for 90 minutes, only to leave Paiea Field shaking its head after suffering what would be its only loss of the season. En route to winning its fifth consecutive Division I title, Kealakehe outshot the Warriors 30-2, but the Waveriders were fit to be tied with a 0-0 draw that was one of their few blemishes during a four-year stretch.
“We just get into this mode trying to feel out the strengths of other teams, and sometimes to do that you have to be a little conservative,” Patino said. “It’s not a tactical decision, it’s more like a response that we have.
“We know it pissed them off.”
The Warriors appeared to be up to their old tricks Monday at Paiea Field in their opener, but Hilo’s Kalei Tolentino-Perry was impervious to frustration. Staked to a 1-0 halftime lead on a goal by freshman midfielder Buddy Betts, Kamehameha couldn’t handle Tolentino-Perry, who delivered a hat trick to rally the Vikings (1-1) to a 3-1 victory.
“He’s a dynamic player, he’s going to make things happen,” Patino said. “We had guys in position to make sure he didn’t do what he did. They just broke down on communication for some reason. Across the board we broke down.”
When Tolentino-Perry wasn’t going through the Warriors, he was helping them up. At one point in the second half, even as play went on in the midfield, the senior stopped to helped a Kamehameha player stretch his leg after he went to the ground with an apparent cramp.
The backline should be a strength for the Warriors this season, along with a solid group of midfielders who will be tasked with creating scoring chances due to inexperience at forward.
All-BIIF first-team fullback Justin Kenoi returns along with a pair of second-teamers, Tyler Waltjen at midfield and goalkeeper Jameson Sato.
Patino is high on many of his freshmen, and Betts is an important piece because he plays in the midfield, as does junior David Erskine.
“Midfielders are going to have to be the horses this season and get through adversity,” Patino said. “They have to drive possession and start the first line of defense. They are the heart of the program.”
Also at fullback are Kailikea Kekuawela, Israel Bowden and Nainoa Kalaola-Maruquin.
Kamehameha is in the upper tier this season along with HPA, Kealakehe, Hilo and Honokaa, which Patino said could be a blessing or a curse.
He usually has his team playing its best soccer at the end. Kamehameha has ridden its style all the way to the state championship match the past two seasons, losing to Mid-Pacific in 2015 and HPA last season.
“That’s going to be a challenge,” Patino said. “We can’t continue to train and play like the last two years if we want the state championship.”
Girls
Kamehameha 2, Hilo 1
Hevani Haunga and Shariah Olomua netted first-half goals and the Warriors held on to hand Hilo its first BIIF loss since the 2015 semifinals.
Playing more possession, Kamehameha (2-0) held down a Hilo team that it lost to 5-1 in the preseason
“The girls came out firing, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen them play harder,” coach Joshua Woodard said.
Hollie Saplan scored for the Vikings (1-1) in the second half, but Woodard said goalkeeper Kiani Troy made a key stop late.