WAILUA — They came up three-strong. They fired. But no one was there to close the door. That was the story of the Ha‘aheo Boys who dropped the title of the Kaua‘i Soccer Association Seven-a-side league to the Ha‘aheo Teeny
WAILUA — They came up three-strong. They fired. But no one was there to close the door.
That was the story of the Ha‘aheo Boys who dropped the title of the Kaua‘i Soccer Association Seven-a-side league to the Ha‘aheo Teeny Wahine 5-0 Sunday at the Wailua Houselots Park.
Bobbie Rapozo is the coach for both teams and got help from assistant Kaleo Taniguchi to help steer the Ha‘aheo Boys while assistant coach Lisa Overmyer to help navigate the Ha‘aheo Teeny Wahine.
“Actually, Bobbie has four teams,” said Kevin Gusman, another of the assistant coaches for the Ha‘aheo Boys. “The games started early because she has another game to coach right after this one, too.”
During the season, the Ha‘aheo Boys had shown they could prevail over the Ha‘aheo TW, but not on Sunday.
Courtney Bunao lost little time establishing the identity of the wahine as she notched a hat trick in the first half.
That deed done, Bunao donned the green goalkeeper jersey and worked the second half preventing any goals from the boys.
Davin Garma kept the forward position, and got help from Tayedn Francisco and Chysen Lagunes as the trio moved the ball downfield on several occasions, only to be denied at the
goalmouth.
Drew Vera Cruz upped the Ha‘aheo TW lead on a shot from about 10 yards out, but that didn’t dampen the Ha‘aheo Boys who kept the pressure on.
“Go in and watch her,” Rapozo told Jonah Olsen.
That command kept the defender glued to Kaylin Tasaka to prevent any backdoor goals. The antics of Olsen broke the tension as the Ha‘aheo Boys’ fans enjoyed the tactics of the tiny defender.
Kody Gardner won a ball as the clock ticked down. But the effort came up empty as his shot went wide.
Kaihalanacourna Locey iced the victory with a shot that came after she won the ball midfield over a Ha‘aheo Boys player and drove down the wing for the shot in traffic that got past the goalkeeper.
Several more Ha‘aheo Boys’ scoring attempts came up empty, the final one triggering the game’s end.
“The girls are good at applying what they learn at practice,” Gusman said.
In addition to Bunao, Vera Cruz and Locey, Ha‘aheo Girls include Kyla Alamida, Marina Graziano, Cambrie Ort, Kaylee Overmyer, Gabby Taboniar and Tasaka.
Ha‘aheo Boys include Kymani Counts, Joseph Durocher, Francisco, Gardner, Garma, Kaenen Lacaden, Lagunes, Olsen and Cody Taniguchi, who was not able to make the title game Sunday.
