LIHU‘E — The Kapa‘a Lady Warriors junior varsity soccer squad kept the pressure on the Kaua‘i Red Raiders defense until it finally broke through with two goals in the second half to notch a 2-0 win, Thursday at Vidinha Stadium.
After a scoreless first half that featured most of the action played in the middle of the field, Kapa‘a began to repeatedly penetrate the Kaua‘i defense and create scoring opportunities. It seemed inevitable that they would eventually punctuate one with a goal.
That occurred in the 54th minute when forward Rachael Hinkel approached a bouncing ball just past midfield and headed it forward to herself. She outran the Kaua‘i defense and had the goal in her sights.
The Red Raider goalie charged toward Hinkel to cut down the angle and force a hurried attempt, but Hinkel slipped a shot with her left foot past the diving goalie and into the far right corner of the net to create the 1-0 lead for the Lady Warriors.
As is often the case, the goal opened up the game offensively, as Kapa‘a had two more solid chances to add to its lead following the first goal. Kaua‘i managed to avoid an increased deficit and held firm to keep the score at 1-0.
The Red Raiders tried to turn the tables and put together some offense of its own. Justice Toguchi made a run with the ball down the right side and cut in towards the net deep in Kapa‘a territory. She unleashed a shot, but failed to put it on net and it hit the right side of the goal.
Moments later, Kaua‘i’s Ashlyn Matsuyama put a cross from the right side of the pitch into the box, but the Kapa‘a goalie came out to corral the ball and avoid any shot attempts.
Kapa‘a switched the momentum back into its favor as Tori Pezario made a perfect feed to Taylor Ochoa, forcing the goalie out of the net to challenge, but Ochoa’s shot sailed wide of her target. Ochoa later had another opportunity when a loose ball in the box found her foot, but the shot was saved by Kaua‘i’s goalkeeper.
Another chance would not go unfulfilled by Ochoa, who gave Kapa‘a a 2-0 lead in the game’s 67th minute off of a corner kick. The ball was struck to the near post, where a Kapa‘a player headed it on toward the far post, where Ochoa also used her head to finish off the play and put the exclamation point on the Lady Warriors win.
Kapa‘a (1-0) will not play until Thursday, when it will take on Waimea, which has not been in action yet, at 6:30 p.m. at Kapa‘a Stadium.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Kapa‘a boys JV squad scored early and often in its 5-1 win over Kaua‘i.
The offense was spread around as five different Warriors scored goals. Micah Domincal, TJ West, Brandon Napiorkowski, Trevor McCracken and Dylan Devin all found the back of the net for Kapa‘a, which led 3-1 at halftime.
Blaise Ferguson scored the lone Red Raider goal.
The Kaua‘i boys JV (0-1) will be in action at 10 a.m. Saturday at Hanapepe Stadium against Waimea (0-0). Kapa‘a will play Waimea at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Kapa‘a Stadium.
• Sports writer David Simon can be reached at 245-3681 ext. 237, or at dsimon@kauaipubco.com.
