LIHU‘E — Michael Alonzo, a key scoring factor for the Kapa‘a High School boys soccer team, locked up the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Division II boys state soccer championships in the first half Saturday, at
LIHU‘E — Michael Alonzo, a key scoring factor for the Kapa‘a High School boys soccer team, locked up the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Division II boys state soccer championships in the first half Saturday, at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex on O‘ahu.
Alonzo booted his goal in the 21st minute to break a 1-1 deadlock against the Mid Pacific Institute for the 2-1 go-ahead at the half.
Following a physical defensive slugfest through the second 40 minutes of play, Kapa‘a emerged as the 2-1 winner for the state Division II crown.
Kapa‘a, No. 2 seed in Division II play, got on the board in the first 10 minutes of play when Henry Tanner lit the numbers in the eighth minute.
But the Owls, unseeded in state play and earlier upsetting top seeded Konawaena, 3-0, answered in the following minute with an Eshan Mehta goal for the 1-1 stalemate.
Alonzo, who was named for the Division II All-Tournament team as a forward, nailed the scoreboard in the 21st minute.
With the win, Kapa‘a secures its second state Division II title following its initial appearance on the podium in 2009. No other Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys soccer team has made the state tournament record book.
Kevin Cram, coaching the Division II team in 2009, pockets his second state title, wrapping up an 11-0-4 season.
The state championship also places five Warrior players on the Division II All-Tournament team, led by midfielder Joshua Cram getting the nod as the Most Outstanding Player.
Joining Michael on the All-Tournament team, brother Daniel nails the second of three forward positions.
Tanner Henry, getting the first goal in Saturday’s title bout, secured a position on defense along with T.J. West.
Kapa‘a opened its successful bid for the state title, Thursday with a 4-3 win over Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy in double overtime, Joshua Cram getting the credit for the winning goal in the 97th minute.
The win over HPA advanced the Warriors to the semifinals where it beat out No. 3 Kalaheo, 5-2 on Friday behind goals from Henry, two goals from Michael Alonzo, Edsel Lactaotao and J.B. Goode, Henry and Alonzo giving Kapa‘a a 2-1 edge at the half.
Visit www.sportshigh.com for full results on the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts HHSAA boys state soccer championships.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
