HANAPEPE – Lindsey Ibara, a long-time in-line hockey player, is used to focusing and scoring goals up front and in-close to the net. Ibara, who is also a long-time soccer player, didn’t fail when his golden opportunity came up last
HANAPEPE – Lindsey Ibara, a long-time in-line hockey player, is used to
focusing and scoring goals up front and in-close to the net.
Ibara, who is
also a long-time soccer player, didn’t fail when his golden opportunity came up
last night.
Locked in a 1-1 duel, Ibara gained possession of the ball
during a scramble in front and slipped a shot into the low left corner of the
net to give the Waimea Menehunes a 2-1 lead midway through the second half of
the first of two KIF varsity boys soccer playoff games at Hanapepe
Stadium.
The Menehunes held off the the Kapa’a Warriors the rest of the way
to advance to tonight’s championship game against the Kaua’i Red Raiders. Game
time is 6 p.m. at Hanapepe Stadium with the winner advancing to the state
tournament starting Wednesday.
Midway through the first half, Taylan
Azeka’s screaming line drive corner kick put Waimea ahead 1-0. The
rocket-ship-like ball zoomed toward goalie Graham Kovarik. Kovarik jumped and
tried to bat the ball over the net, but it ricocheted into the top corner of
the net instead.
Waimea dominated much of the first half, but Kapa’a was
able to get through for some chances with some crisp passing by Tayton
Williams, Kaena Mayer, Kainoa Nakazawa and Tyler Wakuta.
Twice during the
first half, Waimea forwards crashed in on Kovarik after chips from the
midfield, but both times, the Menehunes got to the scene a split-second
late.
Kovarik also came up big when he tipped Jamieson Cosier’s 30-yard
direct kick over the net.
Near the end of the half, Mayer’s point-blank
shot for Kapa’a was picked off by Menehune goalie David Hanashiro.
Just
before the end of the half, Kapa’a’s Duncan MacDonald sailed a high blast just
over the net.
Early in the second half, Eddie Adams was about to take a
direct-kick shot, but chose instead to pass to high-scoring striker Colby
Ayonon. Ayonon dribbled upfield for five yards and sent a shoulder-high bullet
from 35 yards out into the left corner for the 1-1 tie.
After Ibara’s
go-ahead goal, the Menehune focus shifted to defense, and the Westside boys
were able to thwart a frantic Warrior effort.
