HANAPEPE — The Lihu‘e Prehistoric Pickles forced a rematch for Friday starting at 4 p.m. at Kalawai Park. Coming up from the loser’s bracket, the Boys 12 Under Pickles capitalized on the strong trades to notch all five of their
HANAPEPE — The Lihu‘e Prehistoric Pickles forced a rematch for Friday starting at 4 p.m. at Kalawai Park.
Coming up from the loser’s bracket, the Boys 12 Under Pickles capitalized on the strong trades to notch all five of their goals in the first half en route to a 5-1 win over Kalaheo, Monday at Hanapepe Stadium.
“They have a 5-0 lead at the half,” said one parent in the chilly wind. “The last time these two teams played, it went into shootout.”
Tanner Tavares had the hot foot for the Pickles, moving from midfield to forward and locking in four goals.
Ryan Valhuerdn added the insurance goal, his first of the season that took place while his mom fielded a business call.
Coming off the 5-0 lead, the tables switched as the Pickles played defense for most of the second half as Kalaheo got the wind advantage with the ball staying in Pickles’ territory, punctuated with an occasional breakaway fueled by long balls into the wind.
But the Pickles defense kept the ball on the ground and out of the goal box, while a second-half goal by Braven DeCosta for Kalaheo preventing the shutout.
The American Youth Soccer Organization, Region 940 championships continue through Friday, Wednesday’s contest seeing the Boys 14 Under tangling at 4 p.m. at Hanapepe Stadium.
Thursday, the Girls 14 Under take the field at 4 p.m. with the Boys 12 Under rematch between Kalaheo and the Pickles moving to Kalawai Park, Friday at 4 p.m.
All of the teams involved in the championships will move to the Wil Veech soccer tournament that starts next week at Vidinha Stadium, said William Trugillo, the AYSO, Region 940 commissioner who officiated Monday’s game.