Huge showdown set

aimea’s 3-0 victory makes way for a season-endingKapa’a vs. Kaua’i boys

soccer championship battle

LIHU’E — The Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation

boys soccer race got a bit tighter last Saturday at Vidinha Stadium.

The

Waimea Menehunes knocked off the league-leading Kaua’i Red Raiders 3-0, leaving

the standings in a logjam as the final day of the season approaches this

Saturday at Hanapepe Stadium.

The Red Raiders and Kapa’a Warriors are tied

at the top of the standings with 5-2-1 records, and the winner of Saturday’s

huge showdown between the two teams will be the champion.

But, if that game

ends in a tie, Waimea (4-2-2) can force a three-way tie for first place by

beating the Island/Kula Wolf-Pac.

If there’s a three-way, two playoff games

would be needed to determine a champion.

There were five other games last

weekend — three varsity and two junior varsity contests.

Varsity

Boys

Waimea 3, Kaua’i 0

Donovan Agan, Jamieson Cosier and Lindsey Ibara

were the Menehune goal scorers in the win that kept Waimea’s title hopes

alive.

Kapa’a 12, Island/Kula 1

Colby Ayonon and Tyler Wakuta scored

three goals each for the Warriors, while Tyson Rabago and Kainoa Woodward

notched two goals each.

In addition, Kalau Ornellas and Robin Lore added a

goal each for Kapa’a.

Graham Kovarick turned in a stellar game in the

Warrior net.

Daniel Mettauer was the lone Island/Kula goal scorer.

“The

score was not a direct reflection of how our boys played,” said Island/Kula

coach Sean Magoun. “We’re improving all the time, and if the season were a bit

longer, we’d improve a lot more.”

Varsity Girls

Kaua’i 1, Waimea

Tiana Lum-Tucker scored the game-winning goal on a corner kick for the

Red Raiders.

“There was nothing more gratifying than seeing the girls

playing up to their ability,” said Kaua’i coach Dennis Chan. “We trained hard

and kept very focused.”

The Raider defense, orchestrated by Rani Minei, has

kept Waimea from scoring all year.

“Our performance was outstanding,” said

Waimea coach Dan Agan. “We succumbed to a corner kick. Undoubtedly, the girls

have proved to be the most improved team in the league.”

The Menehunes got

strong games from Charis Castillo, Liane Sakai, Ashley Hori, Tracie Hayashi,

Neki Murayama and goalie Tina Moreno.

Kapa’a 7, Island/Kula 1

Jasmine

Stevenson knocked home two goals and Mytra DiLeonardo, Rhonda Toki, Deerin

Concepcion, Kanoe Arinaga and Naomi Sparrowhawk had one goal each for the KIF

champion Warriors.

Erin Emberson fired in Island/Kula’s only goal.

“The

girls played their hearts out against Kapa’a and worked hard for that goal,”

said Island/Kula’s Magoun.

Junior Varsity Boys

Waimea 2, Kaua’i

2

Thelson Aana and Jerrick Barcelona were the Waimea goal scorers, while

Aaron Nakaya and Brandon Kimura found the net for the Red Raiders.

Other

top performers included Eric Fujikawa and Bennett Medeiros for Kaua’i and

Derrick Laguatan, Riley Shirai, Jaxon Kagawa and Curtis Kimura of

Waimea.

“Overall, we played great,” said Waimea coach Chico Lazaro. “There

was good hustle by both teams, and we’re glad our season ended on a positive

note.”

Junior Varsity Girls

Kaua’i 2, Waimea 1

Amber Santos

and Lehua Wise scored for Kaua’i High, and Taryn Honma scored on a pass from

Sasha Rita for Waimea.

Other strong performers were Krystalyn Kashiwabara,

Ashley Tanaka, Alana Brun, Kelly Masuda and goalie Kainoa Pau for Kaua’i and

Carly Ibara, Tisha Morimoto, Heather Medina, Kellie Montemayor, Maile Laysa,

Janessa Labuguen, Keiki Dela Cruz, Virginia Aguilar, Heather Prinzing and

goalie Amanda Battershall for Waimea.

“I am really proud of the girls and

the soccer game they played,” said Waimea coach Galen Kawakami.