The Kapa’a High School boys varsity team had their coach kissing the dirt last night at Hanapepe Stadium. But that’s quite alright for Eric Huttger and his staff, who just led the Warriors to a 3-1 victory over the Waimea
The Kapa’a High School boys varsity team had their coach kissing the dirt last night at Hanapepe Stadium.
But that’s quite alright for Eric Huttger and his staff, who just led the Warriors to a 3-1 victory over the Waimea Menehunes and a 2002 KIF Championship title.
The Warriors were expected to take the title at the onset of the season until the Menehunes complicated matters. With a couple wins that followed a slow beginning, Waimea had a chance yesterday to force a playoff with Kapa’a beyond the regular season.
After the first half of last night’s showdown, it seemed the Menehunes were well on their way.
Waimea’s Evan Agor, who had plenty of early shot opportunities, finally got one in on a scuffle in front of the Warrior net. His grounder hooked past the goal-tender and gave the Menehunes a 1-0 cushion before the half.
Kapa’a came alive.
Altering their defensive structure to keep the Menehunes on their own half of the field, the Warriors got better opportunities to score down the stretch and it ultimately led to three theatrical goals and an island title.
The first may have been the most aesthetic top-of-the-box shot in the KIF this year. Fired from mid-fielder Christian Marston well into the second half, the shot barred-down – hit the top of the post and shot down through the back of the net – to score an impossible-to-save attempt that tied the ball game at one apiece.
Kapa’a wasn’t through.
Mid-fielder Keoni Nakano, who played solid throughout the contest, knocked in a corner from Danny Rittmeister to put the Warriors at a 2-1 advantage mid-second half.
Nakano would be the icing on the cake. He nabbed a loose ball on the left corner of the box and chipped in a slow floater to the back of the net for his second goal of the game.
It was all buckets of water after that.
The Warriors rose above even their own expectations and took decisive KIF championship.
2002 KIF soccer champions
— Kapa’a Warriors —
1. Keala Swain F/M/G
2. Christian Marston M
3. Ty Yamaguchi LFB
4. Joe Corbett FB
5. Tyler Wakuta OM
6. Kai Nakazawa DM
7. Levi McFarland RFB
8. Kai Carvalho RFB
9. Danny Rittmeisgter F/M
10. Keoni Nakano M
11. Waika Oliver Stopper
12. Juan Navarro M/F
13. Gabe Sarsona DM
15. Brad Wakuta F
16. Rick Roderick G
17. Randy Lawrence F/M
18. Gram Kovarik G
19. Elliot Byfield RFB
21 Jud McRoberts Sweeper
Head Coaches: Eric Huttger
Chono Fernandez
Asst. Coach: Christian Marston
