Waimea boys pick up first win

HANAPEPE — A lapse in the defense and a sluggish start in the second half by the Kaua‘i High School boys soccer team gave the Menehune boys its first win of the season last night at Hanapepe Stadium.

Playing in a biting wind punctuated by cold rain, the Menehune men took a 2-1 edge over the Raider men to split its series.

Earlier, the Waimea women were ecstatic as it scored twice in spite of Kaua‘i taking a 5-2 win behind a hat trick from midfielder Brandi Gomes and a pair of goals from Ashlyn Ubongen.

The JV series proved to be as exciting as the varsity contest as the Waimea JV boys took a 2-1 edge over Kaua‘i while the Kaua‘i JV girls kept Waimea scoreless in its 8-0 win.

Waimea boys opened its match with an added pair of players upgraded from the JV program, and following the scenario of the last meeting of the two teams, Torrey Santiago broke the ice to give Waimea a 1-0 halftime lead by capping a breakaway up the middle, effectively evading a Raider defender at midfield and capping the shot at the 35-minute mark.

But the tables turned as Raider confusion on a throw-in at the 47-minute mark gave Waimea another opportunity as Corey Gaspar netted the goal on a follow up effort on the throw.

Gerry Rayray netted Kaua‘i’s only goal at the 69th minute, although the Raiders peppered Menehune goalkeeper Cody Owen with shots.

Gomes had one goal in the first half before netting two quick second-half goals for her hat trick. Ubongen netted her two goals in the first half.

But Kaua‘i faltered and Kiare Alejandro ignited the crowd when she scored her first goal in the second half. That was followed by Hamiha Arquette who netted her goal in heavy traffic on a corner kick, one parent noting that this was more Waimea goals than the girls scored all last season.

Kaua‘i next faces Kapa‘a for the first time this season on Tuesday in Kapa‘a.