HANAPEPE — Just when it looked like the fuse was going to hit the stick of dynamite, Kaylee Balbarino put on the damper, Thursday. Two Lihu‘e teams, the Kaua‘i Jets and the Lihu‘e Dynamites tangled as they did throughout the
HANAPEPE — Just when it looked like the fuse was going to hit the stick of dynamite, Kaylee Balbarino put on the damper, Thursday.
Two Lihu‘e teams, the Kaua‘i Jets and the Lihu‘e Dynamites tangled as they did throughout the American Youth Soccer Organization, Region 940 season in the Girls 14 Under division.
But it was Pili Chung’s sure foot in golden goal overtime that fizzled the fuse, relegating the Dynamites to second place in the regional playoffs.
That overtime goal in the first three minutes gave the Jets a 4-3 edge after coming back from a 3-2 deficit in regulation.
Chung announced the Jets with an early goal, and working through defensive adjustments, the Dynamites answered on a second-effort Darianne Curtis play after the forward took a corner ball and lofted it over the Jets’ goalkeeper for the 1-1 stalemate late in the second quarter.
But eight minutes later, the Jets answered with a Balbarino ball for the 2-1 Jets edge at the half.
Caitlyn Cantorna took the scoring spotlight in the third period, scoring two quick goals within two minutes of each other to give the Jets its 3-2 lead.
The pinkshirts held on behind the strong defensive showing of Khaya Bunao anchoring the Dynamites’ defensive effort.
Cantona was joined by Rukiyah Walker showing nice transition play up the middle.
Saraiah Ijima anchored the Jets’ defensive efforts, effectively protecting the goalbox with Chung moving the ball throughout the field, Balbarino poised for the strike in the forward spot.
Overall, both teams matched up well and it appeared the Dynamites had an answer to any attack posed by the Jets until late in the game when Balbarino broke through for the 3-3 stalemate to force the game into the golden goal scenario.
With the win, the Jets lock up the AYSO, Region 940 Girls 14 Under title, but both teams advance to the Will Veeck soccer tournament, which starts at 4:30 p.m., Monday at Vidinha Stadium.
During the Veeck tournament, the AYSO, Region 940 teams will match up against their Region 941 counterparts.
