ANAHOLA — Weather conditions weren’t exactly perfect Tuesday afternoon. Skies were gray, winds were gusting and the threat of rain was present. But it didn’t stop the Warriors from getting in one last practice before flying to Oahu. “Polishing up
ANAHOLA — Weather conditions weren’t exactly perfect Tuesday afternoon.
Skies were gray, winds were gusting and the threat of rain was present. But it didn’t stop the Warriors from getting in one last practice before flying to Oahu.
“Polishing up those last minute things,” said Kapaa head coach Mytra McKeague during Tuesday’s practice at Anahola Village Park.
Kapaa High School’s varsity girls soccer team is set for The Queen’s Medical Center Girls Soccer State Championships – Division II state tournament, which begins today.
This year’s Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion Warrior wahine are ranked No. 2 in the tournament and have a first round bye.
“Seeding is always nice because you get to go watch the day before who you’re going to play,” McKeague said. “That’s always a plus — just being ready.”
“Tournament play is different than actual games,” she added. “You’re playing three games in a row. We got to try to emphasize that at practice, playing three hard practices in a row to mimic the tournament play.”
Kapaa (10-1-1 KIF) will play the winner of the first round match between Makua Lani Christian Academy of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation and Waianae of the Oahu Interscholastic Association. The quarterfinals match is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.
Warriors junior defender Micaela Costa said practices have focused on conditioning.
“We’ve been training these past couple of weeks for states. Trying to get in conditioning for states and be able to run as much as we can,” Costa said. “Also, working on skills, too. Just prepping.”
Costa added about playing in her first state soccer tournament: “I’m really excited. I’m excited to see what’s going to be up there, and what we’re going to be doing.”
The Warriors placed fourth at last year’s tournament. Kapaa, then seeded No. 3, defeated Big Island’s Kamehameha School’s – Hawaii, 1-nil, in overtime in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Kapaa lost to No. 2 Mid-Pacific Institute of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, 2-1 (4-3 PKs), in penalty kicks. In the third place game, Kapaa lost to ILH’s Pac-Five, 3-1.
“The second game, we gave it our all. So, the third game was a lot harder,” said Warriors junior center midfielder Natalie Devin. “I think all the girls have to give it our all every single game, and I think they will. Especially people who are not experienced in the state tournament, they just have to be ready.”
Devin added she and her teammates are optimistic going into the tourney.
“I think we’re super on our high right now,” she said. “We have a lot of confidence going into it. We think we can win.”
Thursday’s match will be McKeague’s debut at states as a head coach.
“Nervous, but excited,” the Warriors coach said. “The girls work hard. We have a lot of returnees. So, they know how to do it already. Hopefully, they take that and run with it.”
McKeague added she hopes her team will “connect the dots” and make a big run in the main bracket.
“We’re not going there for a vacation. We’re going to take care of business. Hopefully, they stay focused,” she said.
