LIHUE — The Hilo High School Vikings girls soccer team arrived Friday afternoon for a three-game series, one each against Kapaa, Kauai and Waimea high schools girls.
“We’d love to play Island School, if possible,” said Curtis Chong, the Hilo assistant coach, after being greeted Friday by Colby Ayonon, the Island School coach. “But that’s something to think about.”
Hilo, who will host the Big Island Candies Hilo Bay Classic soccer tournament starting Friday, finished its Kauai tour will opening losses — 3-1 to Kapaa on Friday afternoon, and 2-1 to Kauai on Saturday morning.
“This is a young team,” Chong said. “We have 25 girls, up from the 21 of last year’s team, and of those, 12, or 13 of them are freshmen. We have three seniors, but only one is playing right now.”
Hilo was not put back by the age of the team as Jordyn Pacheco found the net early, giving the visiting Vikings a 1-0 bulge.
Kapaa answered, Kaisha Davis-Caberto coming back with two goals, and Vandessa Hernandez icing the 3-1 win.
“I like how the girls came back from the deficit,” said Kapaa coach Mytra McKeague. “Instead of getting flustered where the 1-0 lead could have turned into disaster, the girls fought through it and came back. It shows they have a strong minds.”
McKeague said they still have a lot of work to do before the season starts on Dec. 12 when they take on Kauai High School at Vidinha Stadium.
“We have a good core of girls coming back,” McKeague said. “There is still a lot more work to do — you know, connecting the dots.”
Kauai girls opened the Saturday games by handing Hilo a shutout, 2-0, scoring a goal in the first half when Aleigha “Red” Scovel, who has signed a letter of intent for the University of Hawaii-Hilo, got an assist in Lyndsie Kashima’s goal in the first half.
Hannah Bailey iced the victory with a goal in traffic, up the right side early in the second half in traffic.
“This was a good match,” said Joe Cassler, taking the coaching reins for the Kauai girls for the first time. “The girls look solid in the midfield. They look to be in good shape. But we need more work in trying to finish and they need to play more possession ball. But overall, I’m excited for the year. It should be an exciting season.”
The final matchup went in Hilo’s favor, 4-1 as the Vikings enhanced its 3-0 halftime margin with a score in the second half. Kailani Yamamoto found the net to keep the Menehune from being shut out.
