PUHI — The Voyager boys got a go-ahead goal in the second half to edge the Red Raiders and get their first win of the season. Island School’s varsity boys soccer team (1-0-1 KIF) defeated Kauai High, 1-nil, at home
PUHI — The Voyager boys got a go-ahead goal in the second half to edge the Red Raiders and get their first win of the season.
Island School’s varsity boys soccer team (1-0-1 KIF) defeated Kauai High, 1-nil, at home Tuesday in Puhi.
“It feels great. The kids have worked hard. It was a hard-fought game,” said Island School head coach Sean Magoun. “Both teams were scrapping for the ball. We had a lucky one that went in. The boys, the credit is all to them.”
Voyagers freshman forward Alae Miike got the score from inside the penalty area at the 67th minute.
“Lucky touch. Some go in. Some go out,” Miike said about the goal. “I just saw it come right towards me. It was like, ‘My moment. I’m going in.’ You got to be thankful. It felt really great.”
“We just played hard. We did well. We just shut them out. I’m really proud of my team for that,” he added.
Aside from the lone goal, the Red Raiders’ offsides trap defense was effective. Island School was called offsides a number of times during the match.
“It was one of those goals that, it was a little chip shot up and over,” said Kauai head coach Mark Brandeburg. “The offside trap was working, but also our defender slipped and fell. That’s how they got by. It’s just one of those things that happens in the game.”
Kauai (0-2-0 KIF) had a shot on goal at the 52nd minute. Senior forward Eric Benitez kicked a low ball toward the far side of the goal, but Island School junior goalkeeper Andres Elzaurdia sidestepped his way back in time to meet the ball and deny the Red Raiders a score.
“Island School played well today. You got to give them credit,” Brandeburg said. “We just got to start passing better. That’s basically it.”
Voyagers junior defender Tai Mitchell drew a yellow card at the 12th minute, and senior defender Steve Yannarell drew two yellow cards at the 62nd and 65th minutes, all for profanity.
Red Raiders junior midfielder Aaron Fabiana also was carded for profanity at the 80th minute.
“You hope that this is a great lesson,” Magoun said about the penalizations. “Enthusiasm cannot be circumvented by being inappropriate. … Young men get excited about the moment. It’s hard to control that sometimes. Let’s look at it as a teachable moment.”
Island School will next play Waimea at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Vidinha Stadium. Kauai will play Kapaa at 1:30 p.m. Saturday also at Vidinha.
“Like any game, you’re going to look for your refinements. Do I think it’s one of our better games? No. There were some elements of possession that we were lacking today that we showed better against Kapaa. That hurt us today,” Magoun said.
Island School got a 2-2 draw versus Kapaa in the season opener on Dec. 19.
“Like any game, if you don’t persevere, put your head down and keep working at it, you’re not going to get the breakthrough. Today, they got the breakthrough,” Magoun added.