LIHU‘E — The Kapa‘a Warriors got one breakaway opportunity and took advantage of it, as Lowen Gonzales scored the lone goal in Kapa‘a’s 1-0 victory over the Kaua‘i Red Raiders, Wednesday night at Vidinha Stadium. Gonzales came away with a
LIHU‘E — The Kapa‘a Warriors got one breakaway opportunity and took advantage of it, as Lowen Gonzales scored the lone goal in Kapa‘a’s 1-0 victory over the Kaua‘i Red Raiders, Wednesday night at Vidinha Stadium.
Gonzales came away with a free ball around midfield and took off past Kaua‘i’s two deepest defenders, getting himself in a one-on-one with Raider goalie Dylan Snyder. He placed his shot toward the bottom left corner of the goal, past the outstretched right arm of Snyder for the score in the 39th minute.
That finish just before halftime capped a first period that was controlled by the Warriors offensive attack. Kanoa Nartatez had a good early chance for Kapa‘a as he headed a great cross from Gonzales’ corner kick, but the ball sailed just over the crossbar.
Joshua Cram later had a good look at the net off a Nartatez feed, but his attempt went wide left.
The Raiders’ best early chance came from Mason Vegas, who was inches from giving Kaua‘i a 1-0 lead. A sloppy header in the box sent Kapa‘a goalie Shane Nishioka-Healy off his line and Vegas connected on a thigh-high shot with the outside of his foot toward the goal, but the ball bounced off the top of the post as the Warriors managed to clear the zone.
Kaua‘i’s Lucas Gushikuma had a great shot in the second half, hoping to even the score, but Nishioka-Healy leapt to his right and made a tremendous save on the shot sailing towards the upper left corner of the goal, deflecting it up over the crossbar.
Defender Hunter Rice-Hudson made another huge play to preserve the 1-0 lead, saving a shot after Gushikama lost possession at the edge of the box.
Kapa‘a was hit with four yellow cards in the match, with Brad Heiser and Gonzales receiving one for unsporting behavior, Calvin Rux and Taylor Langstaff carded for dissent. Kaua‘i’s Alex Brown picked up a yellow for unsporting behavior.
The Waimea Menehune picked up a 2-0 victory over the Island School Voyagers in a varsity boys matchup in Puhi.
Jonathan Tangalin and Joshua Quinlan picked up the scores for Waimea.
The evening’s junior varsity contest between Kaua‘i and Kapa‘a ended in a 4-1 win for the Warriors at Vidinha, prior to the varsity match.
Daniel Alonzo opened the scorebooks with a goal in the fifth minute of play. Jonathon Crago added to the lead in the 23rd minute.
Raiatea Oliver pushed Kapa‘a to a 3-0 advantage in the 33rd minute, but Antonio Aguliar quickly cut the deficit to 3-1 with a score in the 35th minute.
Sonny Check then had the final score in the 45th minute to create the 4-1 finish.
