LIHUE — The Kapaa High School girls soccer team will play the No. 4 girls team from the Big Island at 2 p.m. Feb. 1 at Vidinha Stadium for a right to go to the state tournament.
Coached by Kevin Cram, the Warrior wahine earned the play-in game by defeating Island School girls 5-1 Saturday during the final game of the Kauai Interscholastic Federation girls soccer season.
Leading up to the game, Kapaa and Island School girls were battling for the No. 2 spot in the KIF standings following Kapaa’s 2-0 loss to Kauai, and Island School’s 1-0 win over Waimea Wednesday night.
Cram made his adjustments for the gusting winds and moved his power from defense to offense as the game got underway before an enthusiastic crowd on Saturday.
Eryka Keoho, normally the Warrior sweeper, was moved to forward, enhancing the capabilities of Kanani Colburn, playing the wing. Keoho notched the first goal in the match, heading in a goal in heavy traffic off a Carrie Wilson corner kick eight minutes into the game.
Wilson and Natalie Devin got the offense going, and in the 25th minute Devin crossed the ball to Colburn who netted it for the 2-0 lead.
Colburn put the Warriors up 3-0 at the half when she netted a pass from Wilson in the 33rd minute.
The adjustments from Cram and Island School coach Colby Ayonon kept the audience on its toes as the Warrior wahine took control of the ball from the onset, limiting Island School forward Madison Moore just two penetrations in the first half.
Moore, who eventually scored the Voyagers’ goal on a late penalty kick, was effectively defended by Cassidy Yatsko on her first sojourn into Warrior territory, and Wilson on her second run.
Megan Devin and Vanessa Hernandez netted the two second-half scores.
• Keale Lee netted a hat trick, or three goals scored, to lead the Kapaa boys to a 6-0 win over Island School in the nightcap.
Joining Lee, Keaton Schneider, Tiernan Kahoe and Eljay Camat found the net for scores in the win.
The Island School boys next travel to Hanapepe Stadium to face the Waimea Menehune at 6 p.m. Friday. This game was rescheduled from Saturday.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
