LIHU‘E — “Beth-a-nee! Beth-a-nee!” The chant echoed through the emptying Vidinha Stadium as the Kilauea U14 Girls chanted in jubilation following their 3 – 0 win over Kalaheo for the championship. Between the presentations of lei, flowers, medals and awards,
LIHU‘E — “Beth-a-nee! Beth-a-nee!” The chant echoed through the emptying Vidinha Stadium as the Kilauea U14 Girls chanted in jubilation following their 3 – 0 win over Kalaheo for the championship.
Between the presentations of lei, flowers, medals and awards, one member of the victorious team clutched the game ball tightly, relinquishing it only to another red-shirted member who in turn, clutched it tightly while trying to write sentiments on the sphere.
The game had been tough as Kalaheo goalie Caitlyn Towner stopped numerous Kilauea shot attempts on both ends of the field.
Kalaheo fielded two tough defenders in the guise of Mona Schimmelfenning and Kola Arquette, and an equally tough transition player in Sanoe Souza who managed to squeeze in a goal in the second half.
But, it was Kilauea’s night as coach Gwen Tamura explained that the girls decided they would dedicate this game to Bethany Hamilton, who was attacked by a shark while surfing on Oct. 31.
A parent added that some of the girls on the Kilauea team were classmates with Bethany.
“She used to play with them,” coach Tamura added. But, the surf (meet) schedule kept her away this year.
Leila Barnett opened the second half in assertive fashion, firing in a goal early on to break a 0 – 0 defensive stalemate.
A Kalaheo hand ball led to Jocelyn Enrique upping the ante on a penalty kick only to have Kalaheo answer with the Souza goal.
The pressure intensified as Kalaheo tried desperately to tie as the clock ran down, and in a goalmouth traffic congestion, the ball dribbled off the foot of Kristen Steiner for the icing on the Kilauea victory.
As the signatures began to fill the game ball, coach Tamura said the autographed game ball will be presented to Hamilton in hopes that it will lift her spirits, as well as serve as a reminder of all the friends she has.
One parent noted that Hamilton was even considering coming back to soccer, to which coach Tamura quickly responded, “I’ll coach her!”
In the earlier contests of the championship night of the Wil Veeck tournament, the U12B Wailua Cobras, pulled out all the stops enroute to their 4 – 0 win over the Kilauea Night Marchers, all the Cobra scores coming in the first half.
Alex LaMadrid opened the scorebooks on Wailua’s first possession with a score that was promptly added to by Kai Lydgate in the first quarter.
LaMadrid came up with his second score of the victory in the second period as he capitalized on a rebound play of an Evan Ka‘ahea shot attempt.
Daven Bodano closed the half with a similar play, scoring on a second effort from an initial Ka‘ahea scoring attempt.
Adam Kerlin and Dylan Goodale led the NorthShore Gremio to their U14 Boys championship with a 2-0 win over Kapa‘a Green Xtreme who posted a strong performance in the loss.
