LIHUE — The Warrior boys scored five goals in the second half en route to winning the Kauai Interscholastic Federation season finale. Kapaa High School’s varsity boys soccer team defeated Kauai High, 7-nil, Saturday afternoon at Vidinha Stadium. “We were
LIHUE — The Warrior boys scored five goals in the second half en route to winning the Kauai Interscholastic Federation season finale.
Kapaa High School’s varsity boys soccer team defeated Kauai High, 7-nil, Saturday afternoon at Vidinha Stadium.
“We were just looking to have a fun game to end the season,” said Kapaa head coach Kevin Cram. “Boys got to play positions that they wanted to play rather than where we put them in. We just wanted to end on a positive, fun note.”
Warriors senior forward Koa Kallai and senior midfielder Justin Franklin scored in the first half — Kallai at the seventh minute and Franklin at the 26th minute.
Franklin scored again at the 59th minute. Junior forward Michael DeWitt scored twice in the second half — the first at the 42nd minute and the second at the 59th minute.
Senior forward Jordan Layaoen scored at the 65th minute and senior midfielder Max Nice scored at the 76th minute to round out the Warriors’ win.
“We just had fun. Everybody was really, really cruise,” said Franklin, who played three years varsity for Kapaa. “It was fun.”
Red Raiders freshman midfielder Dodger Middlebrook had a free kick from outside the penalty area at the 14th minute. He took a shot to goal, but the Warriors goalkeeper, senior Eduardo Dominguez, made a diving save.
Middlebrook had another shot on goal at the 48th minute, but the Warriors goalie — senior Kainalu Gandia this time — also made the save.
“It was a great pleasure seeing the seniors play their last game,” said Kauai High head coach Mark Brandeburg. “Regardless of the score, they played hard. That’s all you can ask them to do.”
Kapaa won the coin toss and started the first half, unlike a usual soccer match. Franklin was at midfield and the other Warriors players lined up similar to a football kickoff. Franklin kicked the ball upfield and the others gave chase.
“It was pretty funny,” Franklin said about the kickoff. “It’s something different. I hope someone got it on film, because I want to watch it.”
The Warrior boys ended the season with a 7-3-2 record, accumulating 24 points. The Red Raiders went 0-12-0.
Both schools celebrated senior day.
Kapaa recognized its 13 seniors: Franklin, Kallai, Gandia, Dominguez, Layaoen, Nice, midfielder Jonah Stokes, forward Manuel Dominguez, midfielder Eljay Camat, defender Coleman Langstaff, forward Caleb Neuman, defender Matthew Schmidt and defender Bobby Bartolo.
“This is all my friends that I’ve been playing with my whole life. It makes it a lot funner,” Franklin said.
Cram said about the senior class: “Only got five juniors coming back. So, we got a lot of holes to fill. … They did well. I know they played hard. It was a challenge in the style of play, occasionally, but they stepped up and got it done.”
Kauai High recognized its six seniors following the match: midfielder Branden Remigio, defender Jarran Takekuma, midfielder Hector Portillo, forward Eric Benitez, forward Ryan Ruiz and forward Kai Kimura.
“I enjoy watching the play unfold, honestly. When someone gets a good kick or someone gets a nice cross, the excitement in that moment, that’s what we look for,” Remigio said, who played two years varsity. “We didn’t have many this year, but those moments I love. When someone does something good, even in the midst of all this hardship, that’s what I love.”
Brandeburg said about his seniors: “It’s a great group of kids. We had a lot of fun this year. We had our ups and downs because we were short-handed all year long, but when we needed them, they came through.”
