WAILUA — There will be no Kaua‘i Men’s Soccer Association games, Sunday. Instead, the players get a break, congregating at homes and eateries to enjoy the National Football League Super Bowl, said Gary Hudson, a KMSA leader. “Play will resume
WAILUA — There will be no Kaua‘i Men’s Soccer Association games, Sunday.
Instead, the players get a break, congregating at homes and eateries to enjoy the National Football League Super Bowl, said Gary Hudson, a KMSA leader.
“Play will resume following the Super Bowl weekend on Feb. 13,” Hudson said in an e-mail. “There are three league games remaining on schedule before the league play ends Feb. 27. The playoffs will be on March 6, Semi Sunday with the finals taking place March 13.”
The Bulls continue its undefeated streak, working on several Ikaika Fuerte goals in the second half en route to a 4-0 showing over a tenacious Afterburner squad.
“It’s always fun to watch the Westside boys,” said a player from Canefire while waiting on its match against Kryptonite, Sunday at the Weinberg Sports Park in Wailua. “They do a good job shooting.”
The sideline chatter did its magic to get Canefire up for the match, the team ending in a 5-3 loss to Kryptonite, but showing its strongest output of the season.
Kaleo Kaden put Canefire on the boards first, only to have Chris McKeown knot the game on a penalty kick.
But Yacine Merzouk found the net late in the first half to give Canefire a 2-1 halftime lead.
That set the stage for Kryptonite’s Eddie Adams who exploded for a hat trick in the second half, the scoring flurry capped by a goal from Dan Finer.
Canefire was able to muster a goal from Martin Steinhaus in the period to end the game 5-3 in favor of Kryptonite.
Following Sunday’s match, Kryptonite and the Afterburners are tied in standings with 3-3-0. Hudson said Afterburners would be leading on a slight goal differential, 2-5.
“The Bulls are undefeated, we are defeated,” said the Canefire player, jokingly, during the play between the Bulls and the Afterburners.
Hudson said despite having no wins, Canefire continues with its strong output, the strong finish, Sunday a testiment to the team’s mettle.
The Bulls, laying back on the opening kick, spurred into action early as its up-middle charged the Afterburners’ goalkeeper who came out on the stop.
The ball got past the downed goalie, the middle jumping over the goalie, but regaining his balance to scoot the ball to his waiting wing for the mark at the 9th minute.
Following a defensive slugfest highlighted by another Bulls’ scoring attempt slap harmlessly off the crossbar, Corey Nemeth had an opportunity to tie the game on a penalty kick.
But the Bulls’ goalkeeper, Jeff Nelson, swatted that ball aside to keep the Bulls a point ahead at the half.
Fuertes opened up the game in the second half for the win.
Hudson said the Bulls, in its 6-0-0 record, have allowed just one goal, a late-game net by Kryptonite several weeks ago.
Nelson has anchored the Bulls’ defense, combining with good team play and passes to strong finishers upfront, Hudson said. To date, the Bulls have scored 29 goals in six games with just one goal allowed.
When play resumes, Feb. 13, the first of two games take the field at the Weinberg Sports Park starting at 2 p.m. followed by a 4 p.m. nightcap.
There is no admission to view the games and Hudson encourages the youth players to come and see the adults and some of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation players in action.
