LIHU‘E — Playing through the veil of COVID-19 protocols, the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation wrapped up three girls soccer contests Saturday, at both the Island School field and at Vidinha Stadium.
Officials at both sites were greeted by short teams, or teams unable to field the full number of players.
“We didn’t have soccer last year,” said Kapa‘a coach Andrea Alifler, whose Lady Warrior varsity team edged out the Island School Voyagers, 2-1. “The girls are just excited to get out and play again.”
With about a minute remaining in the day’s opening game at the Island School field, Kapa‘a’s Tracelle Iwamoto capitalized on the Voyager goalkeeper Mary Magoun venturing far out of the goal box. Iwamoto pulled the trigger, and even before the ball dribbled into the net that was devoid of defenders for strikers, celebrated the ball that broke a 0-0 stalemate, and gave Kapa‘a a 1-0 lead at the break.
Alfiler and her staff of coaches including Mytra McKeague and Christian Marston took advantage of the break under the welcoming coolness of the kukui nut trees to solidify some of the “good ideas” the Lady Warriors demonstrated against the Voyagers, whose defense was anchored by Cass Hubbard.
Emeli Rubel fired off the penalty kick at the goal box near the 50th minute to strengthen the Warrior lead, 2-0.
The Voyagers answered the deficit before the 60th minute when Ella Offley found the net in traffic to pull the blue shirts back in the game that ended 2-1 in favor of the Warriors after the Voyagers could not close the door on an equalizer.
The Lady Warrior junior varsity took its action to Vidinha Stadium where Olivia Jenkins had a hat trick, to lead the JV Warriors to an 8-0 shutout over the Kaua‘i junior-varsity squad that listed only eight players on its roster.
Coached by Kevin Gusman, the JV Warriors added two goals apiece from Madison Silva and Shyloh McCann, and a net from Wainohia Kitamura towards the game total.
A yellow card play shook up the Kaua‘i High School goalkeeper, and an injury near the Waimea goal box depleted the already shortened Red Raider roster as both the Kaua‘i and Waimea varsity squads waged a defensive slugfest that ended the first half in a 0-0 deadlock.
Hali‘a Moriguchi broke the stalemate at about the 60th minute by going high in traffic to get the ball past Planas, who returned to the goal box following her shake up in the first half.
Moriguchi’s net only served to tighten the Red Raider defense that was able to squeeze a ball to Kaleonahe “Nahe” Bukoski, who sealed the deal in about the 75th minute for the eventual 1-1 tie.
The next scheduled KIF soccer games take place Wednesday when the boys’ teams make their initial appearances on the fields.
Kaua‘i High School will take on Kapa‘a at the Brian J. Baptiste Sports Complex stadium in Kapa‘a, when the varsity boys kick off at 5 p.m. followed by the varsity girls meeting at 7 p.m.
The Island School Voyagers travel to Hanapepe Stadium to meet up with Waimea High School, the varsity boys going off from 5 p.m. followed by the varsity girls starting at 7 p.m.
Kapa‘a’s JV teams host Kaua‘i’s JV teams Thursday in Kapa‘a, the boys kicking off at 5 p.m. and the girls starting at 6:45 p.m.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
