LIHUE — Waimea High School boys soccer team erupted for six second-half goals to claim a 7-1 victory over the Kauai High School varsity boys, Saturday during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation soccer matches contested at Vidinha Stadium.
Makoa Vanaman and Ky Niccore each netted a pair of goals to lead the Menehune boys’ victory. Vittorio Altomare, Braden Lumabao, and River Owen each scored a goal in the contest that unfolded in windy conditions at the Vidinha Stadium.
Facing a 6-0 deficit, Kauai’s Aron Taguiam found the net in the 74th minute to prevent a Menehune shutout. His goal was followed with less than a minute of play remaining when Owen sank his goal on a header from a corner kick.
The varsity boys’ game was one of six soccer games, including a pair of junior varsity encounters, contested in shower-punctuated wind.
In varsity girls play, Kaya Camaro broke a 0-0 halftime stalemate in the second half to give the Kauai High School varsity girls its 1-0 edge over the Waimea varsity girls.
Island School took on the Kapaa High School varsity boys and girls team in the nightcap. No scores from those games were available at press time.
Earlier in the day, Kauai High School junior varsity’s Damon Johnson found the net in the 25th minute to give the JV Red Raiders a 1-0 edge over the Menehune JV boys at the break.
Waimea JV’s Marcus Malone forced a 1-1 tie with a successful free kick in the 42nd minute when neither side could break the stalemate in the remaining 28 minutes of play.
On the junior varsity girls’ field, Kauai High School’s Naia Boudreau broke a 0-0 halftime deadlock to lead the JV Raider girls to its first victory, 1-0 over the Kapaa JV girls.
“This is our first win following two losses to Kapaa,” said Kauai JV coach Chris Simon. “We still have five more facings against Kapaa during the eight-game season. Our girls have been improving with each outing on the field. A lot of girls had never experienced this type of play when they started. They were out there for five minutes, and that was a long time. Now, they’re playing 20 minutes or more, and being a lot more confident.”
Boys and girls varsity action continues Wednesday when Kapaa High travels to Hanapepe to take on Waimea while Island School takes on Kauai High at Vidinha Stadium.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
