Kapaa High School’s varsity boys soccer team advanced to the semifinals of the 2018 The Queen’s Medical Center Boys Soccer Championships – Division II state tournament.
The No. 2 seeded Warriors defeated Waipahu of the Oahu Interscholastic Association, 6-nil, Thursday afternoon at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.
“I think the boys were able to match up well against their players, and I think we had a bit of an advantage there,” said Kapaa head coach Kevin Cram in a phone interview. “We just kept attacking them and opened up opportunities to score. Because of that, we were able to get all the boys playing time on the field and rest (others) preparing for tomorrow.”
Kapaa took a 2-nil lead into halftime. Warriors senior forward Gabe Franklin scored minutes after the opening whistle, and senior forward Joshua Layaoen scored soon after.
The Warriors then scored four goals in the second half. Layaoen scored twice in the half to record a hat trick.
“With the four goals in the second half, I think a fatigue factor was kicking in with Waipahu. We still had boys to provide fresh legs. They were still going hard, and it was to our advantage,” Cram said.
Cram added about Layaoen’s three goals: “His speed was definitely an advantage in this game. His shots on goal were on target, and I think that helped make a difference.”
Kapaa will play No. 3 McKinley of the OIA in the semifinals today at 1 p.m. McKinley beat Honokaa of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation in Thursday’s quarterfinals, 2-1.
If Kapaa wins today, the Warriors will be going for the school’s third Division II boys soccer state title. Kapaa won the tournament in 2009 and 2013.
“Hopefully, it works in our favor and we can get them in the finals,” Cram said. “I don’t (know a lot about McKinley) other than in OIA, they won the championship game on a penalty kick.”
Information from Hawaii High School Athletic Association.
Thursday’s Division II results
Match 1: No. 1 Kamehameha Schools-Hawaii (BIIF) 6, Kalaheo (OIA) 1 ; KS-Hawaii: Nainoa Kalaola-Maruquin (17’), Christopher Knell (31’), Jonathan DeMotta (42’), Buddy Betts (43’), David Erskine (61’), Richard Lindsey (74’); Kalaheo: Maxx Waynant (32’)
Match 2: No. 4 Pac-Five (ILH) 6, Seabury (MIL) 1; Pac-Five: Coe Trevorrow (19’), Aiden Spagnoli 2 (38’, 44’), Hunter Thompson (49’), Logan Cooper (56’), Cole Ewalt (79’); Seabury: George Jansen (69’)
Match 3: No. 2 Kapaa (KIF) 6, Waipahu (OIA) 0; Kapaa: Gabe Franklin (4’), Joshua Layaoen 3 (17’, 44’, 47’), Riley Pezario (71’); Waipahu: own goal (68’)
Match 4: No. 3 McKinley (OIA) 2, Honokaa (BIIF) 1; McKinley: Kotasu Minawa (11’), Arsany Sokar (46’); Honokaa: Isaac Aguilar (38’)
