LIHUE — Joseph Sams found the net in the 29th minute Monday at the North Vidinha soccer fields to launch the final week of play for the Kauai Soccer Association spring season.
Sams, playing for Keahi in the boys 14-and-under age group, pushed the redshirts to a 1-0 halftime lead. He came back to ice the 3-1 victory over Futsal Kauai B14U with the cap in the 55th minute before a good-sized crowd that lined the makai side of the field. Keahi had the No. 2 seed following league play, and Futsal Kauai earned the No. 3 seed.
Jacob Grossman fired off the Keahi goal that opened the second half after being in the right spot to seal the deal on Sams’ shot on goal that was deflected off the Futsal goalkeeper and into Grossman’s line of sight for the 2-0 bulge at the 42nd minute.
Futsal Kauai capitalized on a Keahi goalkeeper bobble at the goalmouth in the 36th minute as Sailor Keahiolalo’s foot found the ball in traffic to pull the yellowshirts back into the fray.
Tavehi Dubocage put in a solid afternoon of work in the defender position, getting help from Te’a Rosa in saving a late-game goal in heavy traffic outside the Futsal goalmouth as Sams and Grossman were in the thick of the action before Rosa’s leg sent the ball into the Team Onipa‘a, Girls Under 14’s practice field.
Keahi’s defense also played tough throughout, the midfield effectively trimming Futsal efforts at getting the ball to its forward Anthony Durocher.
“This has been a rough season,” said Kevin Gusman, a KSA league official. “There were several days where we had to cancel games because of the weather. We tried to make up some of the games later in the week, but it is what it is. This is the final week of play leading up to the championships Saturday.”
There are several age groups where only three teams were eligible for the playoffs. In these age brackets, the top seed advances to the title match, meeting the winner of the playoff games.
Futsal Kauai B14U will clash for the title against the winner of Wednesday afternoon’s playoff game against top seeded Lihue Arsenal FC and No. 4 seed Wailua FC starting at 4:30 p.m. at the North Vidinha soccer fields.
Championship schedules
All matches at North Vidinha soccer fields
Wednesday: (4:30 p.m.) Boys 14U – No. 1 Lihue Arsenal FC, No. 4 Wailua FC
Thursday: (4:30 p.m.) Girls18U – Futsal Kauai, Team Onipaa
Friday: (4:30 p.m.) Boys 18U
Saturday:
(8 a.m.) Boys 10U – No. 2 Kilauea, No. 3 Kaleimanu Koolau
(8 a.m.) Boys 10U – No. 1 Futsal Kauai, No. 4 Lihue Cougars
(10 a.m.) Girls 10U – No. 2 Futsal Kauai, No. 3 Kalaheo Fire
(10 a.m.) Girls 10UNo. 1 Rush Kauai Premier, No. 4 Rush Kauai Nero
(8 a.m.) Girls 12U – No. 2 Eastside United, No. 3 Kalaheo Fire
(8 a.m.) Girls 12U – No. 1 Futsal Kauai, No. 4 Team Onipaa
(10 a.m.) Boys 12U – No. 2 Futsal Kauai Green, No. 3 Hanalei FC
(10 a.m.) Boys 12U – No. 1 Keahi SC Puma, No. 34 Lihue Arsenal FC
(noon) Boys 10U championship
(2 p.m.) Girls 10U championship
(noon) Girls 12U championship
(2 p.m.) Boys 12U championship
(8 a.m.) Boys 14U championship
(10 a.m.) Girls 14U championship
(noon) Boys 16U championship – Keahi 16UB, Poohala 16UB
(2 p.m.) Girls 18U championship
(4 p.m.) Boys 18U championship
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
