LIHUE — Island School hosted two varsity soccer games against Kapaa High School and each team came away with a win on Saturday. Kapaa’s varsity boys won 8-1 and Island School’s varsity girls won 2-1. Varsity boys: The Warriors’ offense
LIHUE — Island School hosted two varsity soccer games against Kapaa High School and each team came away with a win on Saturday.
Kapaa’s varsity boys won 8-1 and Island School’s varsity girls won 2-1.
Varsity boys:
The Warriors’ offense scored early and often.
Kapaa ended the first half with a 4-0 lead before eventually going on to earn the victory.
“Their passing was going well and defensively they’re getting better organized,” said Kapaa head coach Gary Hudson. “They’re running off the ball and making their passes.
“We’ve been working hard on that and I think the break helped them regroup and get it together,” Hudson said.
With a substantial lead, Hudson subbed out starting goalkeeper Austyne Carvalho-Toloai and allowed him some playing time at left forward during the second half.
He had several chances but couldn’t claim a goal for himself.
“It was very exciting. It was fun,” Carvalho-Toloai said.
Kellan Wortman scored Island School’s only goal at the 79th minute of the match.
Despite the loss, Island School head coach Sean Magoun said he does see his team progressing considering it didn’t score at all during its last match against Kapaa.
“We had a couple of breakdowns early that allowed to get Kapaa on the board early,” he said. “We still stuck with it and we got a goal.
Despite Kapaa’s score, Island School’s goalie Andres Elzaurdia made a few diving saves toward the end of the game and Magoun said he hopes he will build on that moving forward.
However, Magoun said he will continue to switch Elzaurdia and AJ Ort at goalkeeper as he sees fit.
“It’s a game-by-game analysis,” he said. “We’re always trying to find the best combination of players.”
Carvalho-Toloai drew a yellow card at the 77th minute for unsportsmanship.
“I went up to challenge the ball,” he said. “The keeper was going for it and I accidentally laid him out.”
Varsity girls:
Brianna Griep scored at the game-winning goal for Island School during the 49th minute.
“Madison [Moore] got caught up with defenders in the box and I ran to get her to drop it to me,” Griep said. “She made an amazing pass.
“I tried to get over the ball so it wouldn’t go over the goal and I just found it in the goal.”
Island School head coach Colby Ayonon said he hopes this win is a step in the right direction as the team looks forward to the second round of the season.
“We’re a fairly fresh team. It’s our first year being in varsity,” he said.
“It’s a different standard we’re trying to work up to. Every game we’re slowly improving and the girls are a little more confident. I think that’s half of the battle.”
Alexandra Temme scored for Island School at the 10th minute to give her team the early lead.
Kapaa’s Kanani Colburn then evened things up with her own goal during the 18th minute.
The Warriors had several opportunities to score during the second half, but just couldn’t get one past the goalkeeper.
“One of our challenges this season is being able to convert those shot opportunities,” said Kapaa head coach Kevin Cram. “Sometimes, it’s just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.”
Island School will next play at Vidinha Stadium against Kauai.
Kapaa will play against Waimea at Hanapepe Stadium.
Both events will be Wednesday Jan. 8.
The varsity girls are scheduled to start at 5 p.m. and the varsity boys at 7 p.m.
