WAILUA — The Kaua‘i Bulls, undefeated in the Kaua‘i Men’s Soccer Association winter league, had an unusual result Sunday when they ended up with a 1-1 tie against the Afterburners.
Earlier, Kryptonite came up with a pair of second-half goals to take a 2-0 edge over Cane Fire at the Weinberg Sports Park in Wailua.
Gary Hudson, one of the KMSA leaders, said the Afterburners brought a playoff attitude to the final regular-season game and despite being first to the ball on numerous occasions, would see their efforts thwarted by the Bulls defense anchored by Christian Marston.
Similarly, the Bulls’ strong passing attack would flatten when it approached Leroy Emery and the Afterburner defense.
Cory Rita opened the second half on a connection to a volley shot that smashed into the back of the net despite Bulls goalkeeper Jeff Nelson’s best effort.
This was just the second goal allowed by the Bulls this season, and was the first time in the season the whiteshirts were not on the winning end of the game.
With the need for a score rising, the Bulls’ urgency paid off on a penalty against the Afterburners about 25 yards out.
Ikaika Fuerte and Dan Prigge stood over ball facing a wall of Afterburner defenders.
Prigge took the shot that smashed off an Afterburner back and redirecting it past goalkeeper Juan Saenz for the 1-1 deadlock.
Cane Fire, playing a man short in the first 10 minutes, held Kryptonite, which charged into an offensive attack trying to captialize on the manpower shortage.
But the appearance of Cane Fire’s player equalized the battle until Juan Perez fouled Kryptonite’s Eddie Adams in the penalty area.
Dan Finer lined up the shot, but the effort sailed right for the 0-0 halftime stalemate.
With more of the same exchanges playing out the second half, Adams found the net twice to give Kryptonite its 2-0 edge.
Playoffs and pairings for the KMSA will be announced shortly.
