KAILUA-KONA — In what has become an increasing rare dry night of soccer action on the Big Island, the Kealakehe boys pushed their way through the camped-out Kamehameha defense for a 4-1 victory on Thursday at Waverider Stadium. ADVERTISING KAILUA-KONA
KAILUA-KONA — In what has become an increasing rare dry night of soccer action on the Big Island, the Kealakehe boys pushed their way through the camped-out Kamehameha defense for a 4-1 victory on Thursday at Waverider Stadium.
Parking the bus has become a popular phrase when describing a style of play several teams have adopted when playing against Kealakehe over the last two years. Kamehameha was one of the teams to popularize it last year, using the method with great success, though they were never able to pick up a victory.
In the first meeting of the two teams this season, the method seemed to work for a half, but then the seas parted for the Waverider offense after the break.
“In the first half we had 12 shots, but only one went in, so we told the kids to keep doing what they are doing,” Kealakehe head coach Alden Sawada said. “We have been practicing against this defense for the past couple of weeks in anticipation and it seems to be working. It was a good overall team effort.”
The Waveriders dominated the time of possession for the entire game, but after one half of play, the scoreboard did not reflect that as the two teams went into the break tied at 1-1.
Nearly the entire opening 40 minutes was played on the Warriors’ side of the field, allowing Kealakehe many opportunities to score. However, getting a clear shot wasn’t always easy and the ball continued to sail either high or wide of the mark.
The Kamehameha defenders did a good job backing up their keeper Jameson Sato. The defense made two saves near the goal after the ball got behind the keeper.
Shortly before the midway point of the opening half, the Waveriders finally managed to find the back of the net. After a turnover, Hunter Olaso took the ball down the left side to the 18 and sent a pass over to Laukoa Santos, who sent a bullet into the upper, left corner of the goal.
The bus seemed firmly in park through the first 30 minutes into the game, as the Warriors had not even threatened Kealakehe keeper Skyler Troy Canario-Pavao.
However, two minutes later Kamehameha’s David Erskine and Rylan Respicio darted up the field on a counterattack. Respicio passed up to Erskine, who was cut off inside the 18 by a Kealakehe defender. The ball was knocked away, but Respicio followed the play and found himself in the right place at the right time, putting the ball into the far corner of the net to tie the game.
Coming out of the break, Kealakehe wasted little time getting back to work on offense. Just over a minute into play, Brayan Munoz sent in a cross into Jon Takahashi, who put the ball in the net for a 2-1 Waverider advantage.
About five minutes later, Kealakehe scored its third goal. Standing at the 18, Olaso wound up and sent a hard shot barreling toward the net. The ball deflected off a Kamehameha defender and behind the keeper for the score.
At the midway point of the second half, the Waveriders added another goal off the foot of Iokepa Perez-Jaurez-Aponte, who eased the ball into the net to make it a three-goal margin.
As the game ticked away, the Waveriders felt confident enough with their advantage to start subbing players and moving their starters around the pitch, including Santos, who was moved to right-back, an unatural position for the notorius striker, who joked about the move. At one point, during a throw-in, he could be audibly heard telling his teammates, “I don’t take throw-ins,” right before eventually throwing the ball into play.
One reason for Santos’ good mood at the end of the game is that he really wanted this win.
“Last year they just sat back and defended us the whole time and they tied us,” Santos said. “I was able to get that first goal to get us going and we were moving around well out there. We are always trying to get that ‘W.’ We want to keep moving forward and hopefully get that state championship.
Waiakea 9, Ka’u 0
Michael Scott collected his second hat trick of the season, giving him nine goals total, and Craig Okahara-Olsen and Gehrig Octavio each scored twice as the Warriors (5-1) won in Pahala to reach a tie for first place with Keaau in the White division.
John Grover and Griffin Adolf added a goal apiece and Ka’iolana Kon secured the shutout against the Trojans (0-5).
GIRLS
Kamehameha 4, Kealakehe 0
Kiara Cuyo led Kamehameha with two goals in the road win. She scored the first midway through the first half, putting her team up 1-0, and added an insurance goal in the second half.
About four minutes before the second Cuyo goal, Faith Aurello put the second shot in the back of the net. Shariah Olomua scored the final Warrior goal with 11 minutes to play.
Kiani Troy was credited with the shutout.
