Hilo boys soccer coach George Ichimaru didn’t signal out any individual players during his halftime speech, nor did he give anyone a wink or a nod to get it in gear.
Hilo boys soccer coach George Ichimaru didn’t signal out any individual players during his halftime speech, nor did he give anyone a wink or a nod to get it in gear.
He didn’t have to because he knew Kalei Tolentino-Perry would take it upon himself anyway.
The senior went on a scoring spree Wednesday, notching three of his four goals in the second half as the Vikings came back from a three-goal deficit to beat Makua Lani 5-3 in a BIIF boys soccer match at Hilo Bayfront.
“He’s just a leader,” Ichimaru said, “and his influence on the team gets bigger when something needs to get done.”
With DJ Madigan making plays all over the field and the Lions (4-4-1 White division) dominating possession, the Vikings (5-2 Red) needed to get a lot done, but they had plenty of time to do it.
Hilo allowed an early own goal, Madigan set up Micah Christensen’s score with a beautiful 40-yard pass, Ichimaru said, and then added one of his own for a 3-0 lead.
“DJ has a fantastic game, no doubt about it,” Ichimaru said, “and they were whipping us.”
“The turning point came when I coached harder and told them to pressure the ball,” he said.
Tolentino cut into the lead with his first goal, and Ichimaru reiterated his pressure point at halftime.
It was a team effort during the comeback, but it was also vintage Tolentino-Perry.
Hilo’s Logan Mizuba made it 3-2, and Tolentino went on a surge, taking over the team lead in goals with 11.
“Kalei understands his role, and we showed some resiliency in bouncing back,” Ichimaru said
Kealakehe 2, Waiakea 0
Laukoa Santos and Brayan Munoz netted goals as the visiting Waveriders (8-1 Red) beat the Warriors (6-2 white).
Hawaii Prep 9, Keaau 0
Austin Schneider scored twice in Waimea as Ka Makani (8-0) got goals from eight different players to remain undefeated.
Ghar Pautz, Brendan Moynahan, Bip Padraos, Kamuela Lindsey, Noah Wise and Braden Kojima had a goal apiece, and Zane Willman and Keaton Riley combined on the shutout of the Cougars (5-5), who have lost five in a row.
Girls
Hilo 1, Makua Lani 0
It might have been more of a struggle than the Vikings expected, but Haley Miyasato took a corner kick from Hollie Saplan and scored in the 45th minute as the host Vikings (7-1) secured an automatic berth in the HHSAA Division I tournament as the outright regular-season champion in the Red division.
“They played us tough,” Hilo assistant coach Curtis Chong said.
Saydee Bacdad recorded the shutout against the Lions (2-5).
Hawaii Prep 9. Keaau 0
Riley Sohriakoff recorded a hat trick and Sakura Remsen added two goals and had a hand in the shutout for host Ka Makani in Waimea.
Kahele Walsh, Emi Higgins, Teah Van Bergen and Sofia Aguilar finished with a goal apiece for HPA (5-2-1), which clinched the No. 2 seed and a home match in the BIIF Division II semifinals. Kamehameha locked up the top seed Tuesday with a 4-0 win against Konawaena.
Maia Mills also played goalkeeper in the shutout of the Cougars (0-7).
Waiakea 9, Kealakehe 0
Ki Serrao tallied a hat trick and Kaylee Valentino-Fergerstrom and Maiya Serrao each had two goals as the host Warriors (4-3-1) tied Konawaena for second place in the Red division.
The Warriors host the Wildcats on Saturday in a match that will help decide home field in the Division I semifinals.
Nanea Moke-Rabang and Bryonie Cameron added goals for Waiakea, and Tiani Kow and Kaira Chang shared in the shutout of the Waveriders (1-8).