LIHU’E – They pushed themselves tirelessly, making runs on well, or not-so-well placed passes from teammates. Finally, as the second half wore to a close, Kaua’i’s Kris Speegle found the ball amongst a pile of players and put it past
LIHU’E – They pushed themselves tirelessly, making runs on well, or
not-so-well placed passes from teammates.
Finally, as the second half wore
to a close, Kaua’i’s Kris Speegle found the ball amongst a pile of players and
put it past Waimea goalie James Marques. The score lifted the Red Raiders to a
2-1 Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation victory, and solidified its spot atop the
KIF standings.
It also put the onus on the Kapa’a Warriors to defeat the
Menehunes next week at Vidinha Stadium, or risk falling further from
contention.
“We’re in good shape,” Kaua’i coach Mark Brandeburg said.
And his boys are pretty well conditioned, too. And that played a major
role in Saturday’s victory.
“We spend time conditioning during every
practice,” Brandeburg said. “Whether it’s ten 110-yard sprints or ten grinders
or what the players will instantly recognize as The Hill, or all of it.
“We
do a lot of running.”
The idea is not to prevent the boys from becoming
winded. That is the bodies natural reaction to exertion. The point, rather, “is
to make sure that they can recuperate quickly,” Brandeburg said. “You give them
a brief rest and then they’re ready to go.
“That’s being in
shape.”
Kaua’i’s capacity to run, along with its seeming refusal to accept
a tie delivered the Speegle goal. During the second half, the Red Raiders were
on the attack constantly.
And the Menehunes, who were mathematically
eliminated from earning the KIF title, did well to keep Kaua’i from
scoring.
“There’s no way you can say anything negative about our effort
today,” Waimea coach Dan Agan said. “Our boys played hard, no doubt about
it.
“We just tell them that they’ve got to take advantage of the other
team’s mistakes, and not make any of our own.”
Agan expressed his
satisfaction with his players’ effort.
“We are younger and less experienced
than Kaua’i or Kapa’a,” the coach said. “So I’m really proud of what we’re
doing.”
The teams arrived at intermission deadlocked. Waimea got on the
board when Taylan Azeka connected on a free kick.
The Red Raiders’ goal
came unassisted via Mason Chan.
Girls Varsity
Kaua’i 2, Waimea
The Red Raiders avenged last week’s loss to Kapa’a with a dominating
victory Saturday. Kaua’i had multiple shots on goal that missed their mark, or
the gap in scoring might have been much larger.
Kaua’i, in first in the
KIF, got on the board once in the first half, when a Holly Iloreta pass found
forward Amber Santos, who punched in the header.
In the second half, junior
Elise Martin found the net unassisted.
Boys JV
Kaua’i 5, Waimea
2
The Red Raiders’ Ryan Dennison recorded a hat trick – three goals – in
Kaua’i’s win.
Waimea’s Steven Fountain was responsible for both of the
Menehunes goals.
With the victory, the Red Raiders are assured of at least
a share of the KIF championship.
Girls JV
Kaua’i 3, Waimea 0
The
Red Raiders goals were scored by Shauna Tachibana, Stacey Sueoka and Janee
Correira. With the victory, Kaua’i wraps up at least a share of the KIF
championship.
“Waimea really dominated the first half,” Kaua’i head coach
Blanche Arakaki said. “But we managed to get them in the second.”
