LIHU‘E — Karla Asai scored four goals and the Lihu‘e Purple Oranges got life at the American Youth Soccer Organization, Region 940, Under 14 girls playoffs, Tuesday. Asai, who opened with two quick goals, iced the 7-2 win over the
LIHU‘E — Karla Asai scored four goals and the Lihu‘e Purple Oranges got life at the American Youth Soccer Organization, Region 940, Under 14 girls playoffs, Tuesday.
Asai, who opened with two quick goals, iced the 7-2 win over the Koloa Pink Ladies with a final goal in the last three minues of play as she moved behind the Koloa goalkeeper and swiped the ball into the net.
With the win, the Purple Oranges remain alive in the playoffs, advancing to meet the Lihu‘e Cabreira team that dropped a 5-3 loss to Waimea Onipa‘a at the Waimea Canyon Park.
The Lihu‘e-Lihu‘e elimination match will take place Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at the North Vidinha field.
The winner of Thursday’s match will advance to meet Waimea at Hanapepe Stadium.
Waimea, with its win over Lihu‘e, will advance to the championship game, beginning at 5:30 p.m., Nov. 2 at the Hanapepe Stadium, according to Maile Moriguchi, public relations officer for AYSO, Region 940.
Following Asai’s opening pair, the Purple Oranges upped the ante in the second quarter on a penalty kick by Joni Hashizume, who went on to score two goals in the game.
Her second goal came in the final period when she swept across the field from her midfielder position and picked up the goal from the left side.
Koloa, showing strong play punctuated by squeals and giggles during the first half when it effectively moved the ball against the Lihu‘e midfield, could not get its receivers in position to close the door.
Dannika Thompson answered Hashizume’s penalty kick goal coming up the middle, beating out the Purple Orange defenders for a quick goal that soared past the hands of Kelsey Ann Vea, the Lihu‘e goalkeeper.
Her second goal came in the third quarter to answer a goal by Lihu‘e’s Stacey Ota, who netted the ball from the left wing after taking a pass from midfielder Brandi Kam to open the period.
Asai followed with a goal on a rebound of her initial shot-on-goal that was deflected out by the Koloa stopper.
On her final goal, Asai took a cross from left wing Kristin Umakoshi and charged to the goal. The Koloa goalkeeper came sprinting out to sit on the ball.
But Asai’s foot swiped the ball clear and past the moving goalkeeper for the win.
In addition to the strong play exhibited by the Pink Ladies in the first half, its midfielder, Kiki, came alive in the second half, exhibiting some deft moves on the far wing, but unable to get past the taller Lihu‘e defenders.
Koloa’s coach took advantage of her quick moves by moving her to several spots around the field, but the Lihu‘e defense held Koloa to just a single goal in the second half.
