With precious little time remaining, Kamehameha boys soccer team needed to improvise.
Elijah Dinkel did the rest.
Dinkel’s scored his second goal Wednesday late in a BIIF Division II match in Waimea as the Warriors escaped with a 2-2 draw against Hawaii Prep in what was a possible championship match preview.
Warriors coach Gene Okamura said equalizer came with fewer than 10 second remaining in the match off a set piece. The play started, he said, when Will Henderson took a set piece from around midfield.
“We just lumped it into the box since there was no time left, and Elijah volleyed it out of the air,” Okamura said.
Dinkel, a junior, has five goals in two matches. His first-half-goal Wednesday helped Kamehameha (1-0-1) recover from a 2-0 deficit.
“I think for it being only our second match and against a quality team, we showed well at moments,” Okamura said. “But (we) need to be more consistent throughout the match. Really proud of the boys for their effort and grit to fight back into the match after being 2-0 down.”
Ka Makani (1-0-1) also were playing their second match of the season.
Fresh off a four-goal match Monday at Honokaa, Aidan Santos added another Wednesday to give HPA its 2-0 lead. Earlier, Mason Hunt netted his third goal of the season, with the assist going to Nate Lawton.
The teams have combined to win the past seven BIIF D-II titles, and they are among the favorites this season along with Makua Lani.
Kealakehe 12, Christian Liberty 0: Mathew Enriquez continued his scoring spree with four more goals, and Micah Carson tallied a hat trick as the Waveriders rolled in Keaau.
Shane Carroll scored twice for Kealakehe (3-1-0), and Braydon Heldt also found the back of the net. Enriquez has 10 goals on the season.
Duke Becker claimed a clean sheet against the Canefire (0-2-0).
Makua Lani 12, Keaau 0: The Lions won on the road to improve to 3-0-0.
Girls
Kamehameha 0, Hawaii Prep 0: Seven-time HHSAA Division II champion Ka Makani finally got their season started, and goalkeeper Sarah Kiernan helped preserve a draw in Waimea.
“She played well,” HPA coach Stephen Perry said. “The backline worked hard. Nice to see all the girls competing. Both teams.”
Kaylia Galindo collected the shutout for the Warriors (1-0-1).
The teams will meet again Feb. 12 at Kamehameha in a one-match BIIF playoff in D-II.