Kapaa High School’s varsity girls soccer team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2019 The Queen’s Medical Center Girls Soccer Championships–Division II state tournament.
Kapaa, this year’s Kauai Interscholastic Federation runner-up, defeated Seabury Hall of the Maui Interscholastic League, 3-2, in the opening round Wednesday afternoon at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex on Oahu.
“We definitely had some tourney jitters to work through in the first half, down 1-nil to begin. It was great. The girls showed a lot of grit today, being able to compete and have a winning mindset to get that goal back and get a couple more in,” said Kapaa head coach Andrea Alfiler in a phone interview Wednesday.
“At one point, we were up, 3-1. It felt good to have all the players with us to see the field. As the coach, I felt good about that — that everyone contributed some minutes on the field and coming away with a victory that the girls felt really good about.”
Warriors sophomore Dina Hayes scored twice for Kapaa, her first at the 36th minute and her second at the 62nd minute. Junior Maya Loughead scored at the 44th minute.
“Yes, Dina got the two goals. She played great,” Alfiler said. “She’s a fantastic player. She’s coming into her own, and she’s a young player, too. She’s had a lot of learning opportunities, and she’s been a steady player throughout the year. For her to break out with two goals at the beginning of the tourney, which is essentially a new season, is great.”
Seabury Hall freshman Madelyn Dougherty scored at the 28th minute, and junior Meika Dunnill scored at the 71st minute.
Kapaa, unseeded in the tournament, will play against No. 4 seed Kalaheo High School of the Oahu Interscholastic Association in the quarterfinals at 3 p.m. today.
“It’s exciting. Tourney play, it’s very exciting,” Alfiler said. “Kalaheo, I was able to watch them play against Waianae in the OIA D2 championship. Definitely a tougher opponent, but I think we’ll match up really well. I hope to again show up with a competitive, winning mindset and come out with a victory.”
KIF champion Kauai High School, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, will play Makua Lani Christian Academy of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation in the quarterfinals at 3 p.m. today. Kauai received a first-round bye.
Makua Lani defeated Waianae High School of the OIA in the opening round Wednesday, 1-0, in overtime. Junior Mia Lurbiecki scored the match-winning goal for Makua Lani.
Wednesday’s Division II results
Match 1: Sacred Hearts (ILH) 1, Leilehua (OIA) 0; Sacred Hearts: Christiann Arakawa goal (83’)
Match 2: Kapaa (KIF) 3, Seabury Hall (MIL) 2; Kapaa: Dina Hayes 2 (36’, 62’), Maya Loughead (44’); Seabury Hall: Madelyn Dougherty (28’), Meika Dunnill (71’)
Match 3: Makua Lani (BIIF) 1, Waianae (OIA) 0, OT; Makua Lani (85’)
Match 4: Hawaii Prep (BIIF) 8, Waialua (OIA) 0; Hawaii Prep: Bella Police 3 (27’, 32’, 40’), Emi Higgins 2 (3’, 25’), Alianna West (18’), Malia Brost (45’), Riley Sohriakoff (68’)
Information from Hawaii High School Athletic Association
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
