LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i High School girls junior varsity soccer team found the net twice, but it was the third net that saved them from a loss, Thursday against Kapa‘a at the Vidinha Stadium. Kapa‘a, getting its goal from Alanna
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i High School girls junior varsity soccer team found the net twice, but it was the third net that saved them from a loss, Thursday against Kapa‘a at the Vidinha Stadium.
Kapa‘a, getting its goal from Alanna Bauman, playing the right wing, had a 1-0 lead through most of the second half after Bauman broke a 0-0 halftime deadlock with a second effort which started from the left wing and crossed to the right where she found the goal after beating out the Kaua‘i defender who was recovering from the leftside shot attempt.
Less than a minute following the ice-breaker, Kaua‘i’s Caitlyn Cantorna fired from deep right.
But the ball settling outside the net painted quizzical looks on the faces of the Red Raider bench.
The first non-goal triggered Cantorna into action for the second time about 20 minutes later, the right wing firing from about 30 yards out and Joni Hashizume pushing the aerial into the net for another non-goal.
Those two frustrations pushed the Warriors’ forward Madisson Hinkel, who was effectively shielded on her sojourns, into Red Raider territory.
As Kaua‘i settled into a mood of acceptance, Hashizume found the net for the second time, just ticks away from the final whistle, sending the Kaua‘i bench into jubilation at the 1-1 stalemate as the whistle sounded on the game.
The Kaua‘i JV boys were equally frustrated in trying to find the net, but at the final whistle, they were not as successful as the girls, dropping 1-0 to the JV Warriors.
From the onset, both teams were bent on keeping each other at bay, the defense and midfield playing key roles in a clean, but physical defensive slugfest.
Jonathan Paleka capitalized on a Red Raider foul near the goal box, nailing a penalty kick six minutes into play for the only score of the game.
On Wednesday, Alyssa “Malu” Vegas had a hat trick and a late-game goal by Kylie Kuhlmann graced a 4-0 Kaua‘i girls’ win over Kapa‘a in the varsity division.
Vegas broke into the scorebooks, 20 minutes into play by outrunning the Kapa‘a defender for the 1-0 halftime bulge.
Vegas came back in the second half as Kaua‘i piled up three goals towards the final, Malu opening the half with a successful free kick and following that goal by scoring on a throw-in play.
With a goalkeeper change in place, Kuhlmann, starting the season as a defender but moving to the forward position, out-played the Kapa‘a goalie for the final point.
The results of a 2-2 stalemate in the boys’ game set the stage for a crucial boys’ game, Saturday when Kapa‘a travels to Island School starting at 10 a.m. and the Kaua‘i varsity boys meet the Menehune at Hanapepe Stadium in a 3:30 p.m. showdown.
“Kapa‘a boys currently hold the lead with 13 points, according to Kevin Gusman,” said Sonny Kaona, officiating the Thursday night match. “Waimea follows with 12 points and Kaua‘i is just one, or two points back. Saturday is definitely going to be interesting for the varsity boys.”
The Wednesday nightcap started in Kaua‘i’s favor when Grant Basquez found the goal about midway through the opening half for the 1-0 lead at the half, said Kaua‘i coach Mark Brandeburg in an email.
Lucas Gushikuma found the net just a couple of minutes into the second half for a 2-0 lead which was broken when Ty Shiramizu, normally the Kapa‘a stopper, netted a penalty kick.
Daniel Alonzo knotted the game about midway through the second half sending both teams into a concerted effort at trying to break the tie.
The intensity of the game was demonstrated in the yellow card cautions issued — one to Kapa‘a’s Andre Appel for unsporting conduct and the other to Kaua‘i’s Devin Portillo for a deliberate tactical foul.
Over at the Hanapepe Stadium, the games were spread over two days as the Waimea varsity boys held off Island School, 2-0 behind goals from Byron Freitas and Brian Ceballos on Wednesday.
Yellow cards also demonstrated the intensity of the game as Waimea’s Isaac Fiero was cautioned for deliberate tactical foul and Island School’s Ben Steuri was warned for incidental vulgar/profane language.
According to Greg Gonsalves, he said the stadium’s lights were not ready to be used, moving the Waimea JV girls game against Island School to Thursday afternoon.
Madison Moore netted two goals, one in the 22nd minute and the other at the 43rd minute to put the Island School girls on top 2-0 against the Waimea JV girls at Hanapepe Stadium.
But the Menehune awoke, Alyssa Medeiros finding the net at the 55th minute on a comeback effort and Island School’s Keana Green being cautioned for language.
Five minutes later, Tiara Soliven found the net at the 60th minute, ending the game in a 2-2 stalemate.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
