KAPA‘A — Kaina Dusenberry netted a goal at the 70th minute to ice the Waimea JV boys’ 2-0 win over Kaua‘i, and the Menehune and Red Raider JV girls battled to a 0-0 deadlock, Thursday at the New Kapa‘a Town
KAPA‘A — Kaina Dusenberry netted a goal at the 70th minute to ice the Waimea JV boys’ 2-0 win over Kaua‘i, and the Menehune and Red Raider JV girls battled to a 0-0 deadlock, Thursday at the New Kapa‘a Town Park stadium.
Dusenberry, who set up the first goal for Isaac Fierro in the first half, laid low in midfield and stepped up for the late-game goal, following up on efforts by Menehune forwards Micah Quinlan and Wyatt Taniguchi.
Frustration blanketed both teams with Taniguchi bellowing his disgust as both teams exchanged long balls throughout the night.
Kaua‘i midfielder Trysen Kaneshige had a workout moving the ball into position and Kaiea Iwasaki, playing the stopper position, was tested against the bigger Menehune forwards.
Kaneshige got help from Jared Okayama and Kalen Celebrado in getting the ball to Anthony Gammerino in the forward position.
The frustration also was demonstrated by the four yellow cards issued — two against Kaua‘i and two against Waimea for persistent fouls.
Adding to the physical ball exchanges, the Menehune suffered an injury to their scorer midway through the second half when Fierro was stopped by a Kaua‘i defender resulting in the Waimea forward being carried off the field by the trainers and coaches.
“The next time we play them will be the championship game,” said Kaua‘i coach Kevin Devitt following the game. “We played them three times, and haven’t lost, but haven’t won, yet.”
Kody Gardner, one of the Waimea managers, agreed, adding that the Waimea girls have come a long way since the season started.
“They came from different levels and styles of play and we’ve been working with them to play as a team,” Gardner said. “They’ve really come a long way, and as Coach Devitt said, ‘The next time will be the championship game.’”
Anchoring the Menehune was the triangular arrangement of Bailey San Agustin-Nordmeier, Kayhla Cachero-Ramos and Ember Teter with Ivy Sarmiento doing the sweeps for stops getting past the defensive triangle.
This arrangement was effective in limiting the Red Raider offense, headed by Joni Hashizume and Leiana Alejandro who had several opportunities to score, but came up short.
“It was this close,” Alejandro said, indicating inches with her fingers, of a play where she went sprawling at the goalmouth on a goal attempt on a cross from Hashizume. “I’m all dirty now, but these are my friends.”
Kaua‘i defense was headed by Marrisa Ruiz and Whitney Pigao and contained the Menehune offense led by Sanoe Taniguchi-Simbre and Tierra Teter.
Waimea JV girls next play Island School, Saturday in an exhibition match at noon, following the varsity boys’ game.
Kaua‘i JV celebrates the re-opening of Vidinha Stadium starting at 10 a.m. against Kapa‘a, Saturday.
The next time Kaua‘i JV faces Waimea will be on Jan. 29.
“We have the first game starting at 10 a.m.,” Devitt said.
