PUHI — Kapaa High School’s varsity boys soccer team defeated Island School, 1-nil, Tuesday afternoon in Puhi. “It’s always good to get a win, to gain three points and not fall further behind in the standings,” said Kapaa head coach
PUHI — Kapaa High School’s varsity boys soccer team defeated Island School, 1-nil, Tuesday afternoon in Puhi.
“It’s always good to get a win, to gain three points and not fall further behind in the standings,” said Kapaa head coach Kevin Cram. “But as a team, we would still like to see better play. We can get it out of them because we know they have it in them. We will continue to work on a team effort, and we can only improve if they’re willing to make that jump.”
Warriors senior midfielder Eljay Camat found the net at the 32nd minute. He took a shot from outside the 18-yard box and put it past the Voyagers goalkeeper, junior Andres Elzaurdia.
“That was a cross that came in. And then it deflected off a player and I took a touch. I just volleyed it to the top-right corner,” Camat said about the goal. “It felt great.”
The goal was Camat’s second in two games. He also scored in Saturday’s match against Kauai High, in which the Warriors won, 2-nil.
“I’ve just been moving the pace, changing the pace and just getting into open space,” Camat said about scoring in consecutive matches.
“It’s progress from our last match. Anytime we can get a win, we’re doing well whether it’s by one goal or more,” Cram said about winning two games in a row. “So, we want to carry this over. I think they can review their effort as a team on the field, see where they need to improve and, hopefully, be prepared to do so and be prepared to play Saturday against Waimea.”
Warriors junior midfielder Clifton Oliver had two opportunities for a goal early in the second half, the first from inside the penalty area and the second from distance. Elzaurdia made the save both times.
The Voyagers had a chance to score first. At the 8th minute, sophomore forward Brandon Beydoun had a one-one-one opportunity with the Kapaa goalie inside the penalty area.
Rather than take a shot, Beydoun opted to pass to another forward nearby, but Warriors keeper Kainalu Gandia intercepted the pass.
“We had opportunities. We didn’t execute and Kapaa did,” Magoun said. “That was the major difference in the game. Our boys played hard for 80 minutes. I think the second half was a lot more fruitful for our team in creating chances, but hats off to Kapaa. They went after it.”
At the 75th minute, the Voyagers were given a corner kick which was served by senior midfielder Ziko Quintana. Freshman forward Alae Miike took a touch from the cross, but the ball went straight to Gandia.
“He got a one touch on it, and it kind of rolled up high,” said Island School head coach Sean Magoun. “It almost snuck in behind the keeper, but the keeper was on his toes and made a good save.”
A minute later, Voyagers sophomore defender Emi De La Mora took a shot off a free kick, but the ball went high.
Warriors senior defender Brayden Tanigawa was issued a yellow card at the 78th minute for unsporting behavior.
Kapaa (2-1-1 KIF) will next play Waimea at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Vidinha Stadium. Island School (1-2-1 KIF) will play Kauai High at 5:30 p.m. Saturday also at Vidinha.
