Tribune-Herald ADVERTISING Tribune-Herald Something about playing a man short seems to make Honokaa’s boys soccer team stronger. The Dragons took a one-goal lead in the first half Saturday, quickly lost a player to a red card and then recovered to
Tribune-Herald
Something about playing a man short seems to make Honokaa’s boys soccer team stronger.
The Dragons took a one-goal lead in the first half Saturday, quickly lost a player to a red card and then recovered to beat Christian Liberty 3-1 in a battle of Big Island Interscholastic Federation unbeatens at Honokaa.
“We seem to play better with just 10,” coach Maurice Miranda said after the Dragons (5-0-1) remained in first place in Division II.
Honokaa also persevered to beat Konawaena on Dec. 17 after having a player ejected.
“Our players’ will goes up and we know how to deal with adversity,” Miranda said. “It’s what comes with having a lot of seniors.”
Tony Connors, Kyle Ohta and Preston Branco scored for Honokaa. Connors took a pass from Branco and dribbled through the defense and beat the goalkeeper to put his team ahead in about the 20th minute.
About five minutes later, however, the Dragons found themselves down a player when Seanry Agbayani went off with a red card.
Thanks in large part to the play of Connors and fellow midfielders Ohta and Jevin Dement, Miranda felt his team maintained possession and carried play despite the disadvantage. The coach was mindful of the fact that Honokaa beat the Canefire last season to secure home-field advantage in the playoffs only to lose to Christian Liberty in the BIIF semifinals.
“We’re going to see Christian Liberty again in the playoffs, so the thing we’re going to take away from this game is that we can overcome,” Miranda said.
Nakaiya Kerr scored on a penalty kick for the Canefire (3-1) late in the match to cut their deficit to 2-1.
Branco gave Honokaa a two-goal lead again when he ran down a throughball and chipped it over the goalkeeper. Ohta’s goal earlier in the second half came off a corner kick.
Miranda said the Dragons — especially fullback Aukana’i Kapu — did an admirable job of limiting Kerr and Louis Moylan, one of the most prolific scoring duos on the island.
“Elzer Maltezo made some nice saves,” he said. “We didn’t give them many second chances and did a good job of keeping the ball out of the danger areas.”
Kealakehe 4, Kamehameha 1: Scott Henderson recorded a hat trick as the visiting Waveriders improved to 6-0.
The Warriors (2-1-4) entered the match unbeaten, largely because of strong defensive play. But Kealakehe scored twice in each half, also getting a goal by MarcTakahashi.
“They were able to do some good combination plays and finish very well,” Kamehameha coach Mario Patino said. “Our big downfall is we were not fit enough to keep up with them.”
Phil Aganus scored for the Warriors.
Waiakea 4, Makua Lani 1: Seniors Hajime Hayano and Samuel Mastuura accounted for a goal apiece, and freshmen Gehrig Octavio and Max Adolf also scored to lift the visiting Warriors (4-2).
Goalkeeper Chris Wung stopped a penalty kick to thwart the Lions (2-2-1).
Hawaii Prep 9, Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science 0: Ghar Pautz starting the scoring spree in Waimea, and Ka Makani also got goals from eight other players.
Brandon Melton, Brendan Moynahan, Zen Simon, Josh Lawrence, Noah Wise, Alex Brost, Kama Hurwitz, Kama Kahoe-Morrison all found the back of the net forHPA (4-0-2), and Dyllon Ching kept his goal clean against Na Naia (0-8).
Konawaena 5, Ka‘u 0: The Wildcats (4-2-1) got contributions from five different goalscorers — Sergio Garcia, Logan Takizawa, John Replogle, Dang Nguyen and Chris Higuchi — in home win against the Trojans (2-7-0). Konawaena goalkeeper Jarren Udac recorded the shutout.
Keaau 2, Parker 2: In Waimea, the Bull (0-6-1) earned their first point of the season, while the Cougars moved to 2-4-1. Scorers were not available at press time.
Kohala at Hilo: A score was not reported by the host Vikings.
Girls
Kealakehe 3, Kamehameha 0: Lexi Cuaresma tallied two goals at Paiea Field in Keaau for the Waveriders (3-1-2), who are unbeaten in their past four matches.
Vailana Akeo-Tartuna also scored as Kealakehe dropped Kamehameha (2-3-1) below .500.
Waiakea 9, Makua Lani 0: Cheylee Octavio notched her third five-goal game of the season as the visiting Warriors remained unbeaten.
Kadara Marshall added two goals for Waiakea (4-0-1), and Kylie Robertson and Cierra Toledo-Muragin each scored once.
Jordan Melchor earned the shutout against the Lions (1-5).
Hilo 10, Kohala 0: Mehana Sabado-Halpern netted a hat trick and added an assist to power the Jrhost Vikings.
Delcee Ramos and Taylor Matas each compiled two goals and an assist, while Jasmine Smeraglia, Lolly Higa and Lii Maertens all scored one apiece for Hilo (4-1-1). Shylia Bautista, Serena Nasworthy and Camille Martinez had assists.
Jordyn Breitbarth and Danielle Brown combined in shutting out the Cowgirls (1-6).
Ka’u at Konawaena: A score was not reported by the host Wildcats.
