LIHUE — Warriors senior forward April Barnes scored two goals as Kapaa High School’s varsity girls soccer team defeated Kauai High School, 4-nil, on a windy Wednesday afternoon at Vidinha Stadium.
“Of course, the ball was flying everywhere. But we managed,” Barnes said of the windy conditions. “We tried to keep it on the pitch (field) as much as possible — try to keep it on the ground and connect it. Got that timing down.”
Barnes scored her first goal right before halftime with a header toward goal following a free kick from around midfield. She scored again midway in the second half from inside the penalty area chasing an overhead pass.
“We were passing really well to get those opportunities,” Barnes said. “I got some nice passes, and we all finished really well. I’m really happy with the outcome.”
Warriors senior outside halfback Kyla Bandsma scored Kapaa’s first goal at the 10th minute in the 18-yard box.
Freshman forward Dina Hayes got the team’s third goal at the 59th minute. Her initial shot toward goal was stopped by the Red Raiders goalkeeper, but Hayes followed up and tapped the ball in.
“The girls played great today. They played as a team and moved the ball around despite the wind. It’s a big factor,” said Kapaa head coach Mytra McKeague. “In the first half, we had to be very careful. Second half, we let them move the ball around a lot more.”
Kapaa (8-0-1 KIF) is in the driver’s seat at the top of the league standings with three matches left in the season.
“It’s exciting, for sure,” McKeague said. “We always tell the girls that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Coming into that last round, we got to start sprinting.”
Kauai High (6-2-1 KIF) was awarded a free kick at the 63rd minute. Red Raiders forward Kehela Ventura took a shot toward goal, but her ball bounced off the crossbar.
The Red Raiders were also granted a corner kick with minutes left in the match, but the team couldn’t capitalize.
Kauai High School head coach Auika Metcalfe wasn’t available for comment following the varsity girls match.
Kapaa will host Island School at 10 a.m. Saturday at Vidinha Stadium. Kauai High will play Waimea at 11:45 a.m. at Hanapepe Stadium.
Varsity boys: Kapaa 1, Kauai 1
Red Raiders junior midfielder Logan Noice scored an equalizer at the 78th minute as Kapaa and Kauai high schools’ varsity boys teams played to a 1-1 draw Wednesday evening at Vidinha Stadium following the varsity girls match.
“It took a little bit for them to adjust, but again, they never quit. They never give up,” said Kauai head coach Martin Steinhaus. “We didn’t have much depth on the bench because we have a bunch of hurt players. We had two or three subs at most. Every time someone went on the field, they did their job. They contribute, and I think it was the best result. The just result was a tie.”
Kauai (1-5-1 KIF) had a chance at a go-ahead goal later on. Andrew Fune took a shot, but his ball went high.
After a scoreless first half, Kapaa (4-2-1 KIF) scored a stunner of a goal. On the second half kickoff, Warriors senior forward Gabe Franklin struck the ball toward goal.
His ball went just under the crossbar and over the hands of Red Raiders junior goalie Kyson Ikehara to the net.
“We gave him the green light at halftime to go ahead and set up and take the shot,” said Kapaa head coach Kevin Cram. “If me missed, at least the ball would be down at their end. But it went in, and we’re happy for it.”
Cram added about ending in a draw: “We don’t play the basics very well. We scored the goal coming out of halftime, but then we couldn’t make anything happen after that.”
Steinhaus called Franklin’s goal from midfield “incredible.”
“That goal from kickoff, you don’t see it all the time,” he said. “The wind, the power, that was really (great).”
Noice was given a yellow card for unsporting behavior following his goal in the second half. Kauai’s Dodger Middlebrook was also issued a yellow card in the second half for dissent. Kapaa’s Keanu Brown was issued a yellow card in the first half for unsporting behavior.
Kapaa will play Island School at noon Saturday at Vidinha Stadium. Kauai will play Waimea at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Hanapepe Stadium.
