LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i’s Khaya Bunao had a lot of assist chances and Mia Chan peppered the goal, but Waimea’s defense headed by goalkeeper Samantha Lehman limited the Junior Varsity Red Raiders to just three goals, Thursday at Vidinha Stadium. The
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i’s Khaya Bunao had a lot of assist chances and Mia Chan peppered the goal, but Waimea’s defense headed by goalkeeper Samantha Lehman limited the Junior Varsity Red Raiders to just three goals, Thursday at Vidinha Stadium. The Raiders went on to win, 3-1.
Kaua‘i struck in the first five minutes of play when Joni Hashizumi found the net from the right pocket, the ball clearly getting past Lehman.
Danielle Allianic was in the right position 10 minutes later when she received a cross from the rightside to pocket the ball.
Khaya Bunao drew gasps and cheers from the audience, which included the Kaua‘i girls varsity squad, when she pulled the trigger on a pass from Tailee Tangonan. The ball just clearied the goal and the crowd moaned just four minutes following Kaua‘i’s second goal.
The Menehune played solid defense, keeping the ball out of the net and on occasion, getting it to Caitlyn Owen on the wing who sent it upfield only to have the Kaua‘i defense led by Ciara Delos Reyes-Caires turn the ball.
But the Raiders kept the ball primarily in Menehune territory and with less than a minute in the half, Wailana Gandeza broke up the middle for the 3-0 Kaua‘i lead at the half.
Waimea coach William Trugillo and his staff settled the blueshirts and with the wind at its back, showed a lot more offense coming off the break.
Kaua‘i’s Kaylee Taylor Balbarino, who took her turn in the goalbox and after three successful saves, fell victim to Jasmine Silva’s foot at the 47th minute, the Menehune firing from deep in the rightside pocket and the ball sailing over Balbarino’s efforts.
Kaua‘i had its opportunities for scoring, but Waimea’s defense held.
Allianic opened the second half in the 40th minute, taking a pass from Bunao but unable to find the net.
As the clock ticked down, Kaua‘i was issued a red card for Serious Foul Play when a Menehune went down. That triggered Chan to pump up the offense, taking shot after shot but not finding the net.
Earlier in the first half, Waimea was issued a yellow card for Unsporting Behavior.
Waimea will host Kapa‘a in four games, Saturday at Hanapepe Stadium starting with the JV boys kicking off at 10 a.m. followed by the JV girls starting at 11:45 a.m. The varsity boys take the field starting at 1:30 p.m. followed by the varsity girls starting at 3:30 p.m.
Kaua‘i will play a double-header at Vidinha Stadium against Island School, the varsity boys taking the field at 10 a.m. followed by the JV girls exhibition match starting at noon.
