Kauai High School’s varsity girls soccer team defeated Pac-Five of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, 1-nil, in the quarterfinals of The Queen’s Medical Center Girls Soccer Championships – Division II state tournament Thursday. “We fought hard. It was a tough
Kauai High School’s varsity girls soccer team defeated Pac-Five of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, 1-nil, in the quarterfinals of The Queen’s Medical Center Girls Soccer Championships – Division II state tournament Thursday.
“We fought hard. It was a tough game,” Kauai High head coach Joe Cassler said in a phone interview. “We knew they would come out hard and ready to go. Our girls just wanted it more today. For that, I give them credit.”
Red Raiders senior midfielder Anaiah Christensen scored the game’s only goal at the 42nd minute.
“From my memory, the ball kind of bounced around in the midfield. Our midfield gained possession and they sent the ball over the top,” Cassler said describing the goal. “She (Christensen) ran onto it. Fought through two defenders, challenged the goalkeeper — a solid, physical goalkeeper — and tapped it into the goal. And it went right after the half.”
Kauai High also won, 1-nil, in the opening round of the state tournament, defeating Leilehua of the Oahu Interscholastic Association on Wednesday.
“In a tournament like this, it doesn’t matter. Barely getting the edge is enough in this tournament,” Cassler said. “A 1-0 win is just as good as a 3-0 win. So, we’re taking what we get. We’re taking advantage of the opportunity. I’m proud of the girls. This is what we’ve been fighting for all year long, and we’ve been capitalizing in these really big games for us.”
Kauai will play No. 1 seed Hawaii Preparatory Academy of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation in the semifinals at 3 p.m. today at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex. Hawaii Prep defeated Waialua of the Oahu Interscholastic Association, 9-nil, in the quarterfinals Thursday.
Hawaii Prep, two-time reigning Division II girls soccer champions, defeated Kauai High in last year’s tournament in the quarterfinals, 1-nil.
“Most of the girls know the team already. They know what’s at stake. They know how good this team is,” Cassler said. “Mentally right now, they’re enjoying the win. I told them that this is big and we fought hard for this. But we got to start being mentally prepared for tomorrow. It only gets harder from here.”
Cassler added while possibly avenging last year’s loss is a good goal, it’s only one part of the larger goal.
“Obviously, that’s the first step in the goal. Our ultimate redemption is to win the state championship,” he said. “That’s the big picture. It’s the little steps to get there. Tomorrow, our little step is how well do we come out and can we beat HPA.”
