WAIMEA —Konawaena girls soccer coach Kaua Wall knows better than anyone that BIIF Division I titles come in threes.
With bursts of speed and synergy from Jadyn and Caiya Hanks, the Wildcats are two-thirds of the way there with no plans of putting on the breaks anytime soon.
The Hanks sisters combined for a match-defining goal early in the second half Saturday afternoon using lightning-quick efficiency, and Konawaena powered its way a 3-1 victory against a plucky bunch from Hilo High, repeating as D-I champions at Hawaii Prep’s field.
“My sister played a beautiful ball through the defense, and I just took the first shot I had,” senior Jadyn Hanks said of her first of two goals, which came just 10 seconds into the second half. “
The match was tied, and the tide had turned for good.
The undermanned and supposedly rebuilding Vikings, a surprise finalist, stunned Konawaena (13-1) early on when Booboo Corpuz scored on a direct kick to give Hilo a 1-0 goal lead that it was able to protect until halftime.
“We needed that first half to find out feet,” Konawaena coach Kaua Wall said. “Once we found our feet we, were unstoppable.”
The first 40 minutes were eerily similar to last season’s title game, when it was the Wildcats who pulled off a shocker, riding riding Jadyn Hank’s goal to a 1-0 win that derailed the Vikings’ attempt at what would have been an unprecedented fourth BIIF D-I title in a row since statewide classification started.
“At halftime we talked about how we have to defend our title and how we wanted this for the seniors,” sophomore Caiya Hanks said. “We just had to push through to the end.”
Caiya Hanks scored the go-ahead goal off an assist from Zane Garrigan and Naia Balancio’s pass helped set up Jadyn Hanks’ insurance goal.
But it was that first goal that set the tone.
“Once I see her going, as soon as I see her look up, I know it’s time to run,” Jadyn Hanks said. “I know she’s going to send me the ball. We have that sisterly connection.”
Sisterly connection, yes, but is there a sisterly rivalry?
“It’s definitely not a sisterly rivalry, we could never say that,” Caiya Hanks said. “When I pass, I can always count on her to be there. She’s always there.”
The Wildcats draw a bye to the quarterfinals of the HHSAA Division I tournament, Feb. 6 at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex on Oahu, where they have some unfinished business. Konawaena reached the semifinals last season, becoming just the second BIIF D-I team to do so, joining Konawaena’s 2015 squad.
“We plan and we want to make it to the final,” Caiya Hanks said.
The Vikings (7-6-1) will host a state first round game Feb. 3 against a team from the Oahu Interscholastic Association.
Trying to replace eight accomplished seniors and facing a slew of injuries, Hilo did well, coach Skee Saplan said, to upset Waiakea in the semifinals and push Konawaena for 40-plus minutes.
“I’m super proud of these guys for making its this far,” Saplan said. “To be where we are today is a testament to their hard work.
“Given what we had, I can’t ask them for anything more. I’m just glad we could extend the season for two more weeks.”
But it’s Konawaena’s time to shine.
The question is for how long?
Wall was on a Konawaena team that won three BIIF Division I titles in a row from 2006-8, starting the three-year theme for the Wildcats and Vikings. Hilo won three in row from 2009-11, Konawaena ruled from 2013-15, the Viks reigned from 2016-18 and now the ‘Cats are at two and counting.
“It’s always something we think about,” Wall said. “We’re looking to break that (three-year string). We want to create the dynasty.”
Though on a sunny day in Waimea, one title was worth celebrating.
“We knew everyone would play their best game of the season against us,” Wall said. “We just had to stay strong.”
