Hilo High girls soccer coach Skee Saplan isn’t going to let every goal allowed this season spoil a victory against a strong opponent, but scores against the Vikings do seem to get under his skin.
The Viks took the lead just before the half against Konawaena at Hilo Bayfront then charged to a 4-1 victory in a BIIF opener that was rematch of last season’s Division I league final.
“We really need to work more on the little things,” Saplan said. “Konawaena is great, they always come out hard.
“Our motto is never be satisfied, so many things we could have improved on in this game. So many things.”
Both teams spent last weekend on Oahu in a preseason tournament bumping heads against some of the state’s elite teams, and Wildcats coach Kaua Wall and Saplan came away very encouraged.
“We definitely learned a lot,” Wall said.
As for the BIIF D-I elite, not much appears to have changed in the pecking order. The Vikings prevailed 4-0 in the 2018 final for their third consecutive crown, and, beyond victories, one measure of success this season for senior-driven Hilo will be keeping opponents off the scoreboard.
“If we want to make another run, and the girls are determined to be BIIF champs again,” Saplan said, “we really have to clean all these things up.
“I hate giving up goals. We want to better out goals-per-game average (allowed). I don’t know what it was last year.”
It was 0.5 per game – six goals allowed in 12 BIIF matches.
Jordyn Pacheco scored Hilo’s final two goals after assisting on the Vikings’ first one, Haley Miyasato scored in the eighth minute, and Nanea Moke-Rabang netted three assists, including setting up Kalamanamana Harman’s go-ahead goal in the 39th minute.
Wildcats senior Nanea Wall scored midway through the first half from 18 yards out after collecting a pass from Melina Ramirez, but the Vikings did a good job of limiting Konawaena’s opportunities.
“They are always a tough team, they always come out to win,” Wall said. “It didn’t happen for us today.
“Hopefully, it will come together by the time we play them (Jan. 14 at Kealakekua).”
Standout Konawaena junior goalkeeper Kyanah Blas missed the match as she recovers from an injury, but sophomore Finesity Salinas-Gouveia stepped up well, Wall said.
Waiakea 6, Keaau 0: The Warriors cruised at home in coach Erick Lemus’ debut, getting a hat trick from Xailynn Lyman-Moke.
Kelli Xie, Sacred Vickery and Maiya-Ann Serrao also scored, and Tiani Kow collected the shutout.
Boys
Kealakehe 1, Waiakea 1: Alex Bell scored the equalizer in the second half at Ken Yamase Memorial Stadium, giving Waveriders coach Hayato Fukumitsu a well-earned draw in his debut.
Earlier in the second half, Kadin Hatakenaka gave the Warriors the lead.
Waiakea is looking to build on a breakthrough season after ending a state tournament drought, while Kealakehe is trying to rebound after a rare state miss last year.
“We played a lot of possession,” coach David Urakami said, “but Kealakehe came to play.”
Hawaii Prep 9, Keaau 0: Jake Schneider, Noah Balaam, Brendan Moynahan and David Welch Keliihoomalu each scored twice as Ka Makani rolled in Waimea.
Toby Balaam added a goal, and goalkeepers Zane Willman, Kawehi Cabuzel and Keaton Riley shared in the shutout.