LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i High School girls soccer literally ran to the top Wednesday night during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls soccer playoff contest with Kapa‘a High School.
Playing at Vidinha Stadium where the regularly-scheduled boys soccer match was moved up to accommodate the playoff game, the Red Raider ladies utilized good passing and movement on the field to keep the ball away from the Warriors. The Lady Raiders also reinforced the running with a solid defensive arrangement to keep the Lady Warriors frustrated.
The playoff resulted when both teams finished the regularly scheduled play with a tie at 20 points apiece.
Kaua‘i’s Naia Bordreau found the net in the first five minutes of play to further add urgency for Kapa‘a to score.
Coming off a 1-0 Raider half, the running and defense continued with liberal doses of substitutions to keep tiring legs refreshed.
Late in the playoff contest, the sense of urgency of Kapa‘a’s need to score created a penalty in the goal box that sealed the points tie-breaker.
Kaua‘i swung in from the wing in the vicinity of the Kapa‘a goal box late in the contest. This forced the Warrior keeper Serena Bryan to come out and chase down the ball that was skirting the box. At the same time, Raider Shania Kelley turned on the afterburners and slipped between Bryan and the rolling ball, resulting in a penalty against the Warriors.
Adriana Hernandez capitalized on the penalty kick in the 79th minute.
Kaua‘i girls broke the tie at 20 points each, and captured the KIF title with the 2-0 edge.
Kaua‘i, Kapa‘a, and Waimea girls soccer teams advance to the Niu Health Urgent Care Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association girls Division 2 soccer championships that start Feb. 23 and runs through Feb. 26 at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex on O‘ahu.
This is because the HHSAA is allowing the KIF three positions in Division 2 girls soccer. On the boys’ side, the KIF is allowed just one representative.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
