KAPA‘A — Kawaiiki Punua came up with two goals and Lyle Nemeth added another pair as the Bulls held off the Devils for an 8-5 win in a defensive slugfest, Sunday. With the win, the Bulls, playing in the Bantam
KAPA‘A — Kawaiiki Punua came up with two goals and Lyle Nemeth added another pair as the Bulls held off the Devils for an 8-5 win in a defensive slugfest, Sunday.
With the win, the Bulls, playing in the Bantam division for the YMCA of Kaua‘i Inline Hockey League, salvaged its weekend series after dropping 8-3 against the Todd Mayer Green Friday night at the Kapa‘a rink.
Cydney Sitzler and Eli Leech-Kritchman struck early for the Bulls who took a 2-1 lead into the half after the TM Green was only able to answer the opening goal with a Kawai Peahu net at the 16:08 mark, Sitzler opening the books with his inaugural goal at the 16:41 mark.
But Ben Steuri got open for a second-half hat trick to lead the TM Green while the greenshirts held the Bulls to a single goal, a Christian Perdue net who got an assist from Prisma Verzosa with just over five minutes left in the game.
Joining Ben, the TM Green got nets from Kala Yee, Sierra Mayer, and Cascade Mayer in its victory.
Cascade finished with two assists, Sierra had another two assists, Stephanie Steuri and Grant Basquez each chipping in an assist in the TM Green win.
Stephanie, playing goalkeeper for the TM Green, finished with 28 saves on 31 shots while Marissa Aceret, who changed roles for the Sunday matchup, finished with 29 saves on 37 shots in the Bulls’ goalbox, Friday night.
Aceret exchanged her goalkeeper’s padding with Carl Tennberg for the Sunday contest against the Devils with Tennberg making 40 saves on 45 shots while Aceret, playing closer at the net, finished with a goal in the second half, getting an assist from Christian Perdue and Lyle Nemeth on that net.
Lyle Nemeth was the spark for the Bulls’ Sunday win, finishing with two goals and three assists followed by Kawaiiki Punua adding two nets. Marcus Punua finished with a goal along with Aceret, Edward Punua Jr., and Christian Perdue, who got the assist on Aceret’s goal.
Cydney Sitzler finished with four goals for the Devils with Jacob Lewis coming in on an assist on Sitzler’s opening goal before adding a goal of his own with just a second remaining in the contest.
Joshua Lakotas, his face coated with white protective sunblock, finished the day with 30 saves on 38 shots in the Devils’ goalbox.
In the earlier Sunday matchup, Edward Punua Jr. finished with a hat trick to lead the Bruins to a 5-4 edge over the Sharks in the Squirts division matchup.
Both teams engaged in defensive exchanges throughout the second half when Nina Antony found the net for the Bruins for a 5-2 nod at the 6:59 mark.
But Kai Gandia answered that goal with one at the 3:06 mark, and with just 19 ticks remaining in the contest, netted another goal to bring the Sharks’ deficit to just a point before the clock ran out.
Gandia finished with two goals and an assist in the effort with Crowder and Sanchez netting a goal each.
Marcus Punua, tending goal for the Sharks, finished with 17 saves on 22 shots while the Bruins’ keeper, Lakotas, ended the day with 20 saves on 24 shots.
Edward led the Bruins’ scoring with his hat trick and an assist followed by Antony and Mikala Crowder each netting a goal.
Cydney Sitzler finished with two goals and Zachary Rodriguez added two more goals to lead the Midget Green to a 7-6 edge over the Midget Blue in the second Friday night game.
Joining the two scoring leaders, Ikaika Fuerte added a goal and two assists, Trevor McCracken finished with a goal and two assists and Kawai Peahu added a goal with Justin Fujikawa coming up with an assist in the Green win.
Bruce Perdue finished with a second-half hat trick and two assists to lead the Blue’s effort that saw all of its scoring come in the second half.
Following Bruce’s lead, Pierce Int-Hout added a goal and an assist, Kirsten McCracken scored two nets and Lyle Nemeth finished with an assist in the effort.
Following the Sunday games, Penni Taketa, the league’s scorekeeper announced there will be a bye for the league this coming weekend as most of the players and coaches will be taking in the Pan Pacific soccer tournament on O‘ahu.
