WAILUA — The Kapa‘a Warriors regrouped and fired off two goals in the second half to wrap up a 2-0 edge over the visiting Hilo High School Vikings, Friday at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Sports Park in Wailua. “We
WAILUA — The Kapa‘a Warriors regrouped and fired off two goals in the second half to wrap up a 2-0 edge over the visiting Hilo High School Vikings, Friday at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Sports Park in Wailua.
“We had a lot better game in the second half,” said Kapa‘a coach Gwen Tamura, following the pre-season match. “But we still have a lot of work ahead of us.”
Both teams battled to a 0-0 halftime stalemate, Hilo’s defense holding tough against the Kapa‘a offense headed up by Kekai Gonsalves, Taylor Ochoa with support from Chloe Fredericksen in the middle.
Mia Cabulisan anchored the Kapa‘a defense, keeping the ball midfield through most of the first 40 minutes.
Following the break, Kapa‘a polished its offense, and in the 50th minute, Gonsalves broke the tie after outrunning Hilo defender Lawrenes “Lolly” Higa on the left wing, getting the shot off from the pocket.
Hilo had its opportunity as well when the Kapa‘a goalkeeper, Madeline “Maddy” Rausch misplayed a ball at the goalmouth.
But a smart play from Kanani Colburn moved the ball out of danger.
Kapa‘a found its second goal in the 63rd minute when Fredericksen, following a lot of hard work in the middle, battled with Edwina DeGrood, the Hilo goalkeeper, at the mouth after beating Higa to the scoring position.
The ball slipped behind DeGrood and Fredericksen used her lithe height advantage to slip out of the grapple and boot the ball into the net.
Greg Gonsalves, the Kapa‘a athletic director, said Hilo, bivoac-ed at the Kaumakani Neighborhood Center, will play both Kaua‘i and Waimea high school girls’ team in Saturday games at the Hanapepe Stadium.
No game times were available.
The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation soccer season starts on Dec. 1 when Waimea visits Kaua‘i high school at Vidinha Stadium and Kapa‘a is at Island School for a full slate of games starting at 10 a.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
