Kauai High School’s varsity girls soccer team defeated Seabury Hall of the Maui Interscholastic League in the opening round of the 2018 The Queen’s Medical Center Girls Soccer Championships – Division II state tournament.
Kauai’s Red Raiders won, 3-nil, Wednesday afternoon at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.
“We take the game as ‘one game at a time.’ We were really focused on really trying to create momentum, taking the first 20 minutes and trying to play our style,” said Kauai head coach Auika Metcalfe in a phone interview Wednesday. “I think we were able to get that concept early on, which is what gave us the advantage at the beginning. They were able to move the ball around. We were finding open spaces, and we finished.”
Kauai took a 2-nil lead into halftime. Red Raiders sophomore Tia Fulks scored at the sixth minute, and freshman Jannelle Puplava scored at the 18th minute.
Sophmore midfielder Mia Takekuma scored at the 75th minute to ice the win.
In last year’s Division II tournament, Kauai lost to Seabury Hall in the opening round.
“When last year happened, we always can learn from our mistakes,” Metcalfe said. “What I kept trying to preach to the girls is that the first game is really important. Again, we take the game one day at a time. Once it’s finished, then we can move on and focus on the next.”
Kauai will face No. 4 Kailua of the Oahu Interscholastic Association in the quarterfinals at 3 p.m. today at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.
“We heard they have a strong set of forwards and a strong set of midfielders. It gives us an idea of what to expect, so then we can try to combine and create something for tomorrow — so we don’t go in blind, as they say,” Metcalfe said. “It will hopefully give us an advantage.”
No. 2 seed Kapaa High School will play against Makua Lani of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation at 3 p.m. today.
Makua Lani defeated Radford of the OIA, 2-1, in the opening round Wednesday. Halle Nottage and Ilinahe Beatty scored for Makua Lani, and Hannah Heffelfinger scored for Radford.
Wednesday’s results
Match 1: Leilehua (OIA) 1, Le Jardin (ILH) 0
Match 2: Kauai (KIF) 3, Seabury (MIL) 0
Match 3: Makua Lani (BIIF) 2, Radford (OIA) 1
Match 4: Hawaii Prep (BIIF) def. Nanakuli (OIA), forfeit
