Kauai High School’s varsity girls soccer team won the consolation final of The Queen’s Medical Center Girls Soccer Championships — Division II state tournament. The Red Raiders defeated Kalaheo of the Oahu Interscholastic Federation, 2-1, Friday at the Waipio Peninsula
Kauai High School’s varsity girls soccer team won the consolation final of The Queen’s Medical Center Girls Soccer Championships — Division II state tournament.
The Red Raiders defeated Kalaheo of the Oahu Interscholastic Federation, 2-1, Friday at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex on Oahu.
“It was good, besides our first game. It’s tough competition,” said Kauai High varsity girls soccer Head Coach Joe Cassler in a phone interview Friday. “Kalaheo is a very good team — D2 runner-up. We knew we were kind of going to have our hands full today. But we came out in the best shape we did in the whole tournament.”
Kalaheo’s Micayla Jahnke got the opening goal at the 13th minute.
Kauai’s Kyla Bandsma scored an equalizer at the 31st minute, and Chassidy Cantorna got the game-winning goal at the 69th minute.
“We were playing around with some formations, trying to see where we were with people in different positions,” Cassler said. “Today, it worked out well. We executed. I was impressed because with out of position, they were still executing. That was good.”
At the state tournament, Kauai High lost its opening match Wednesday against Seabury Hall of the Maui Interscholastic League, 3-2.
Kauai then won against Waianae of the OIA, 2-0, in a consolation match Thursday.
The Red Raiders ended their 2016-17 season with an 11-4 record, going 9-3 in the regular season to finish as runner-up in the Kauai Interscholastic Federation.
“Obviously disappointed that we weren’t playing in the (Main) Stadium today,” Cassler said. “I think overall, the girls had fun. It took a lot of the pressure off. After the loss, they were disappointed. But when the pressure’s off, you always play better.
“I think for the whole team in general, it was a good experience. We got a lot of our sophomores and juniors a lot of playing time. So, they know what the competition looks like and feels like, especially looking forward to next year,” he continued. “And the seniors stepped up in their leadership role. They really took advantage of that throughout the week. So, we’ll have a nice day tomorrow — just cruising and hanging out.”
Information from Hawaii High School Athletic Association.
