Some soccer coaches have a system and they stick to it, asking their players to adapt. ADVERTISING Some soccer coaches have a system and they stick to it, asking their players to adapt. Other coaches change their philosophy depending on
Some soccer coaches have a system and they stick to it, asking their players to adapt.
Other coaches change their philosophy depending on the talent on hand.
Kamehameha boys coach Mario Patino falls into the latter category.
“Our system is always going to reflect what we have on the field,” he said. “That’s going to change year to year.”
Last season, the Warriors featured a red-hot striker with a solid defense and an All-BIIF goalkeeper, and they rode the formula all the way to their first BIIF Division II championship.
Patino came back for a second stint as Kamehameha’s coach two seasons ago because he didn’t like the trajectory the program was taking. His work isn’t done quite just yet, even after helping the Warriors capture that elusive prize.
But change is afoot.
“It won’t be a one-player dominate system like it was last year,” Patino said. “We’re in a regrowth season. Every year we have a core number of soccer players. The rest are just athletes.”
Dominik Pajimola, then a senior, blazed the trail last season, scoring 23 goals — including in 1-0 victories in the BIIF semifinals and final — as the Warriors won 13 of 14 matches, a run that took them all the way to the HHSAA championship game.
Patino doesn’t see a player Kamehameha can build solely around this season, so he won’t even try.
“The collective group will be the key,” Patino said. “We have a core group of midfielders that if they can work together as a unit, they will be able to do some collective finishing.”
Goal creating in part will fall on seniors Riley Siemann, Liam Kenoi and sophomore Tyler Waltjen. Siemenn scored Kamehameha’s only goal in a 7-1 loss to Mid-Pacific in the state final, while Kenoi is the only returning player to make first-team all-BIIF last season. Waltjen was a second-teamer.
Senior Isaiah Laeha is entering his first season with the program, but he has soccer experience and Patino was excited he came out for the team.
“Riley will be instrumental this year,” Patino said. “He’s a target player who the midfielders can work with and play off.
“Tyler brings in a good bit of technical and tactical ability. Liam is a four-year varsity player who can bring some dynamics to the unit.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Jameson Sato takes over for Sean Miday after playing junior varsity last season. Sato was the varsity backup last season, but Miday rarely left the net.
Sato will be aided by the fact the Warriors return three of their four fullbacks, including steady sophomores Kea Kekuawela and Justin Kenoi.
Patino wasn’t the only BIIF coach who was happy to see two-time defending state champ Mid-Pacific jump to Division I, and a 7-1 loss in the state final left the returning Warriors hungry to try and catch up to the Owls’ technical prowess.
“The players have a big say in how we train and they set the goal each season,” Patino said. “They realize technical ability is the big key to be able to play at that level.”
The program’s first BIIF title also seemingly had an impact on player turnout. On average, Patino said, 20 players come out for the team, but this year he was almost forced to make cuts after 35 players turned out, including a number of underclassmen.
“What is exciting is they’ll be around for three years,” Patino said. “If this is a rebuilding year, then this will be a good foundation for the next couple of years.”
