By MATT GERHART Tribune-Herald sports writer ADVERTISING Waiakea quickly regrouped after falling behind late in the second half Wednesday, coming up with an improbable goal to send its match with Hilo to overtime. After a 1-1 draw, senior Tylor Shibata
By MATT GERHART
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Waiakea quickly regrouped after falling behind late in the second half Wednesday, coming up with an improbable goal to send its match with Hilo to overtime.
After a 1-1 draw, senior Tylor Shibata calmly strolled through the penalty box and fought back nerves to kick the Warriors into the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I finals.
On a gusty day at Hilo Bayfront, the Waiakea boys soccer team finally found its cool.
James Yamane was one of five Warriors to convert penalty kicks and he made the stop he needed in goal as Waiakea (10-3-1) dethroned defending champion Hilo to reach the Hawaii High School Athletic Association tournament for the second straight season.
“Can’t even compare it (to last year),” Yamane said. “No words can explain this feeling of bliss.”
In search of their first BIIF title since 2006, the Warriors will face Kealakehe (12-1-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Keaau High School.
Yamane’s assist on Hajime Hayano’s tying goal in the 73rd minute came on Waiakea’s first good scoring opportunity of the match.
For the Warriors, the word of the day — and year — was “composure.”
“We just tried to keep it simple,” Yamane said of his team’s late-game resolve. “This whole season, we’ve been trying to focus on our composure. We just collected ourselves as a team, got our heads back, focused on our game and went at them.”
After the second victory of his career against Hilo, coach David Urakami praised the Warriors’ teamwork — as opposed to the mental and emotional lapses that he says have plagued Waiakea in the past.
“They’re actually coming together as a team and finding that composure is their friend,” Urakami said. “They’re finding out they need to work hard as team instead of (just as) one person and wasting away four years.
“These seniors, their first two years of high school they took some lickings.”
The Warriors made up for a loss to Hilo in last season’s BIIF finals despite playing without second-leading scorer Nuu Aiava. The speedy senior forward is in Las Vegas for a rugby tournament, but Urakami was hopeful that he’d would be back in time to face the Waveriders. He also sat out Kealakehe’s 2-1 victory over Waiakea on Dec. 14.
Senior Johnathan Perez scored his team-high 19th goal for Hilo (11-2-1). Despite a 21-10 advantage in shots — including 16-6 in regulation — the Vikings were denied a state berth for the first time since 2008 in what was Don Memmer’s last game as coach.
“I’m retiring, so it’s a hard pill to swallow,” Memmer said. “But I’m really proud of my team.”
Hilo’s Justin Shiigi owned the right flank at times. He set up Lorrin Pajimola for the potential game-winning goal in the second overtime, but Pajimola’s header hit the crossbar.
“We had our chances,” Memmer said. “I told them afterward that life gives you chances and you have to take advantage of them and finish.”
Yamane set the lineup in a shootout that Waiakea won 5-3. Hayano, senior Cameron Boucher, Yamane and senior William Ebeling all slotted their shots past Hilo goalkeeper Mikah Hatcher.
Senior RJ Iyo played the first 100 minutes in goal before giving way to Yamane for the shootout.
“I wanted to put the team on my back and carry them,” Yamane said.
He went left on each Hilo penalty kick, finally stopping the fourth shooter, Hatcher, to set the stage for Shibata.
“I told him, “No matter what, we’ve still had a good season, but I’d definitely love to continue,” Yamane said.
Shibata obliged and in process set off an emotional celebration on the Warriors’ sideline.
Said Shibata: “I was really nervous, but I was ready to do it. I knew I was going to make it because my team had faith in me.”
Eddie Torrison, Perez and Adryan Vidad scored for the Vikings in the shootout. Each team had to adjust to a stiff crosswind, and Hilo had the better scoring chances during a first half that included only six shots.
Iyo made his bet save in the third minute, stonewalling Perez.
After dominating the first 25 minutes of the second half, the Vikings seemingly took control in the 67th minute when Shiigi dribbled down the right wing and found Perez for an easy tap-in.
A similar play unfolded just two minutes before the end of regulation, but Shiigi and Perez couldn’t connect.
Because of a scheduling quirk, Hilo was playing its first game in 15 days. Waiakea had a only four-day layoff.
“I don’t want to blame the break, but it’s hard to stay sharp,” Memmer said. “Our offense faded.”
After lifting Waiakea to states, Shibata, a fullback, at first couldn’t recall if he’d netted a goal this season.
“No, I’m always defense,” he said. “Oh, oh, wait. I scored once against Ka’u.”
His second score will likely be a little more memorable.
