KAILUA-KONA – With only a couple of weeks to play before playoffs, Hawaii Prep is currently in control of the top girls spot in Division II. However, Makua Lani, which is currently in second place, made a statement Monday that
KAILUA-KONA – With only a couple of weeks to play before playoffs, Hawaii Prep is currently in control of the top girls spot in Division II. However, Makua Lani, which is currently in second place, made a statement Monday that they are not going away after battling the Ka Makani to a 1-1 tie at Old Airport park.
“We definitely had our chances and they definitely had theirs as well,” said Makua Lani coach Riley Alcos. “HPA is always a good team and I enjoy playing against them. It helps us figure out where we are as a team.”
Alcos added that the game strategy for Makua Lani (2-3-1) didn’t go as planned but there were moments where the team really came together.
“It wasn’t the prettiest game at times,” Alcos said, “but there were pockets of brilliance on both sides.”
Hawaii Prep (3-1-1) controlled the possession for most of the game. They scored late in the first half when Marlie Mandaguit sent a kick in from the middle of the pitch from about 35 yards out. The ball hit the crossbar and ricocheted into the net.
However, the lead for Ka Makani would be short lived. With a scramble inside the box, a kick by the Lions bounced off a Hawaii Prep player for an own goal to tie the game at the half.
“We had no communication (on the play) from the back five,” said Hawaii Prep coach Steve Perry. “The result was probably what we deserve. We didn’t show any effort and didn’t finish early on.”
Ka Makani continued to control the game at the start of the second half, and while they were able to get several shots off, they lacked power behind their goal attempts. As the game wound down, Hawaii Prep managed to to push the action forward, but Makua Lani keeper Brianne Lauro made save after save to keep her team in the game.
The best chance to break the tie for Ka Makani came late in the second half when Lauro was pulled out of position after Hawaii Prep’s Jordan Zarate sent a slow roller into the box. The Lions keeper dove to make a play, but the ball was cleared from her reach. The ball rolled right to Ka Makani’s Haley Dow, who sent a hard shot screaming toward the net. However, Lauro was able to reach up from a lying position on the ground and make an unbelievable stop.
“Brianne was fantastic,” Alcos said. “It is only her third year playing soccer in general. She was a softball player and has great hands, and she understands the game very well.”
Makua Lani had a chance to score shortly after the play when Maddie Schuster sent in a line shot from 25 yards out. The Hawaii Prep backup keeper Sakura Remsen, who was in the game after the starting keeper, Taimane Kamaka, was injured earlier in the second half, jumped up to make the save.
“I was hoping that shot would go in but a draw is a draw and we just have to take it and bank on results at the end of the season,” Alcos said. “It has been a fantastic season so far and this is one of our best records. It’s a smaller pool of teams going to states this year so the players know they have to step it up.”
Hawaii Prep won the boys game 5-1.
