LIHU‘E — The Kapa‘a High School varsity boys soccer team increased its lead with a 3-0 win over a hobbled Kaua‘i High School squad Wednesday at Vidinha Stadium. Playing under a stiff tradewind with the threat of showers, Kaua‘i High
LIHU‘E — The Kapa‘a High School varsity boys soccer team increased its lead with a 3-0 win over a hobbled Kaua‘i High School squad Wednesday at Vidinha Stadium.
Playing under a stiff tradewind with the threat of showers, Kaua‘i High School varsity girls could not make headway and settled for a 0-0 stalemate against the Kapa‘a Warriors.
This was the first non-win suffered by the Red Raider wahine this Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation soccer season.
“Hobbled” was the key to the games Wednesday as the Red Raider boys took to the field with a key defender benched due to an injury suffered against Waimea last Saturday in Hanapepe.
Despite the injury, Kalen Celebrado stepped into the defensive spot and kept the Raiders in the game through the first half, but after ailing in the waning minutes, Celebrado joined the bench, leaving the Raiders’ key defender, Grant Basquez, to sweep the field.
The 0-0 halftime stalemate broke open for Kapa‘a in the second half when its forward position, anchored by the Alonzo brothers, Daniel and Michael, sparked three goals in the second half for the win.
Kapa‘a boys, normally getting Trevor McCracken out in the forward position, instead saw McCracken silenced for this game, the forward suited up, but not playing.
After getting a taste of the goal in Saturday’s win over Island School, Michael Alonzo broke into the scorebooks, taking the ball up the middle and pulling the trigger, brother Daniel backing the play from the midfield in the 51st minute.
Michael’s second goal saw the forward taking the ball to the rightside and firing from just outside the pocket in the 56th minute, brother Daniel backing the play action from the left forward position.
The ball shot past the Kaua‘i goalkeeper for the first of three goals, or a hat trick, marked by Michael Alonzo.
His third goal came in the 66th minute. Michael and Daniel charged the goal in tandem from up the middle. The goalkeeper went down and Michael’s foot tapped the ball in from just in front of the downed goalie.
Although Kaua‘i enjoyed moments of offense from Abel Aguilar, Anthony Gammerino and Lucas Gushikuma, the Warrior defense anchored by TJ West, and its smooth transition game led by Joshua Cram, stymied any Raider scoring attempt.
In the varsity girls arena, Kapa‘a took the offense early. Its midfielder, Cassie Wilson made headway into the Kaua‘i defense early-on despite facing the brisk headwinds.
But anchored by Khaya Bunao, Sara Koide and getting solid help from Cascade Mayer, the Red Raiders were able to stop the charge led by Kekai Gonsalves who took the field following a great basketball game Tuesday night in Waimea. Joining her was Madisson Hinkel and Chloe Fredericksen.
Kaua‘i’s offense sputtered minutes into the game after its forward, Alyssa “Malu” Vegas, left the field, followed a few minutes later by Kylie Kuhlmann.
Kapa‘a had an opportunity to capitalize, but Kaua‘i’s goalkeeper stopped the penalty kick window for the 0-0 halftime deadlock.
During the second half, Kaua‘i faced headwinds, but Kuhlmann returned to the game, and with the help of Joni Hashizume, Janin Hashizume and Caitlyn Cantorna, went on the offense only to run into the Warrior defense anchored by Mia Cabulisan, Eryka Keoho, Jamie Brun and Kaiemi Moniz, the midfield transition being handled by Taylor Foster and Wilson.
As the clock waned, the Raiders’ urgency at scoring heightened, but despite several corner kicks, came up empty at the final whistle.
With the win, the Warriors next face Waimea High School Saturday at Vidinha Stadium starting at 10 a.m. for the junior varsity games.
Kaua‘i will travel to Island School where the varsity boys meet up starting at 10 a.m. followed by the JV girls taking the field at noon.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
