Kapa‘a 2, Honoka‘a 1 The Kapa‘a High School’s boys soccer team made history yesterday becoming the first Neighbor Island school to reach a state soccer championship final by knocking off top-ranked Honoka‘a High School 2-1 in the semifinal. “It felt
Kapa‘a 2, Honoka‘a 1
The Kapa‘a High School’s boys soccer team made history yesterday becoming the first Neighbor Island school to reach a state soccer championship final by knocking off top-ranked Honoka‘a High School 2-1 in the semifinal.
“It felt good,” said Ikaika Fuerte, the junior midfielder who scored the winning goal in the first half. “It felt good to get our nerves out of the way.”
Dylan James scored the first goal in the opening minute for the Warriors. Later in the first, James crossed to an open Fuerte who headed the ball for Kapa‘a’s second goal.
The Warriors’ job was then to protect that lead. Fuerte said it was hard defending the Dragons to hold onto their lead, admitting they were a tougher team than the others previously played.
Kapa‘a’s lead was threatened by a goal coming from Rogelio Maltezo in the 64th minute of the match. But Honoka’a came up short, sending Kapa‘a to the final.
Kapa‘a will play Mid-Pacific Institute for the champions today at 6 p.m.
This will also be the first championship game for the Division II level as this is the first year Hawai‘i schools have split up for boys soccer.
In the earlier matches, Honoka‘a advanced to the match against Kapa‘a by finishing the game against Kaua‘i High School. The match, which originally started on Thursday but was post-poned due to weather conditions, continued yesterday morning.
Kaua‘i fought Honoka‘a to a double-overtime morning match that ended in a 7-6 sudden death, penalty kick finish.
With the loss, Kaua‘i was sent to the afternoon consolation round where the defeated Kahuku High School 1-0. Kaua‘i’s lone goal came from Josiah Motosue in the first half.
Kaua‘i will now face off against Seabury Hall for the fifth-place finish.
