Leha Harman and Mike DeCoito got credit for the goal, and Tysen Kaniaupio kept a clean sheet. But don’t forget about everyone else, Hilo High boys soccer coach George Ichimaru said,
The BIIF Division I soccer regular season is played for playoff seeding purposes, and the Vikings are ahead in that regard after beating Hawaii Prep 1-0 at Hilo Bayfront.
“It’s been good that we minimize our goals against, but I always emphasized to the team about the importance of defending well as a unit to keep us in the game,” Ichimaru said.
Hilo (7-1, 21 points) has allowed just two goals all season.
Who deserves the kudos?
Everyone.
“The team, as the forwards, midfielders and defenders get the credit for defending as a unit,” Ichimaru said. “And when we did get unbalanced it took individual effort from each position to counter part and win important challenges and or saves to keep the ball out of our net.”
Harman scored in the second half off a pass from DeCoito, putting home his 13th goal of the season. Kaniaupio was seeing his first action of the season at goalkeeper.
The Division II Ka Makani (3-1-2) suffered their first loss.
Girls
Hilo 3, Hawaii Prep 0: Briana-Jean Tanaka tallied a goal and two assists as the Vikings (3-1-1, 10 points) locked down a home match in the D-I semifinals Wednesday, Feb. 8.
Jazlin Menino and Kryslynn Nabarro also scored and Kali’u Boteilho shut out Ka Makani (1-2-2).
Waiakea 9, Konawaena 0: Kaela Hatakenaka, Lana Mahi-Murray and Kalia Franklin each scored twice as the host Warriors won their third consecutive game to close the regular season.
KK Hashizaki, Keilee Silva and Kaitlin Beatty also scored for Waiakea (3-2, nine points), which can earn a home match in the D-I semifinals if Kealakehe plays to a draw or loses Saturday at Kamehameha.
Journey Morimoto was credited with the shutout against the Wildcats (0-4), who will be the fourth seed.