Battling both tough opponents and a flu bug, girls from the Kaua‘i Soccer Club U19 team emerged unscathed from the Volcano International Soccer Tournament in Hilo last weekend. Hard victories over Mililani and Soul Soccer and a scoreless tie against
Battling both tough opponents and a flu bug, girls from the Kaua‘i Soccer Club U19 team emerged unscathed from the Volcano International Soccer Tournament in Hilo last weekend.
Hard victories over Mililani and Soul Soccer and a scoreless tie against Kamehameha took its toll on the Kaua‘i girls, whose ranks were depleted by the arrival of the flu bug and a family emergency that called a player home.
Zari Fernandez, a speedy defender and outside midfielder for KSC, was stricken first heading into the championship game against Mililani.
“We knew this was going to be a different Mililani team from the one KSC had beaten on opening day, 5-0,” said coach Gwen Tamura. “They had more of they players flying in following that opening game.”
Tamalyn Hasegawa, one of the KSC goalkeepers, was the second flu bug victim.
“But Tamalyn was a real trooper,” Tamura said. “She pulled on her jersey, and despite plans to just play one half, ended up playing the entire game for the win.”
Emma Makepa-Foley broke the ice on a drive to the goal following a pass interception, and Liana Kakalia iced the 2-0 win in the final 10 minutes of play on a shot from the left side.
Not only did the Kaua‘i girls overcome the hardships to finish tournament unscored upon, but Nakamura said they also earned the most sportsmanship points in their division.
KSC opened the scoring seven minutes into its first Mililani matchup when Ka‘ala Leong scored on a cross from Makepa-Foley. Erin Pickett followed with a second-half goal. Rancee Wilson, JoAnne Kaona and Jantill Leota, who replaced Leong at forward, rounded out the scoring.
Makepa-Foley and Leong accounted for the scoring in KSC’s 3-0 win over Soul Soccer, a combined team from Waiakea and Hilo, before battling to a scoreless tie with Kamehameha.
“Losing our player to a family emergency made a big difference in having to re-adjust,” Tamura said. “Our girls outshot Kamehameha but could not get the ball into the goal.”
By acquiring the highest total points in their division, KSC will eventually play Mililani for the championship.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
