Maegan Pablo had a single goal for her final season with Kapa‘a High School: “To not get hurt.” First it was her shoulder, then it was her calf, then she had a bruised bone, then shin splints. “I had to
Maegan Pablo had a single goal for her final season with Kapa‘a High School: “To not get hurt.”
First it was her shoulder, then it was her calf, then she had a bruised bone, then shin splints.
“I had to suck it up and play,” she said.
Her toughness paid off as she and her fellow Lady Warriors won their second straight Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation championship last month. It’s also Kapa‘a’s fourth KIF title in the past five years under head coach Crissi Marti.
The 17-year-old senior from Kapa‘a has endured many an injury throughout her years as a goalie for the Lady Warriors soccer team and has one more week and one more chance for a state championship title.
But she knows that despite her two previous trips — her freshman and junior year — to the state championship tournaments, the games are always a challenge.
“It’s never really easy,” Pablo said. “There’s always pressure, but it’s kind of relief now because it’s my last year.”
Pablo started playing soccer when she was 7 years old. At the time, she also played hockey. For both sports, she was more of an offensive player, but after a couple of years, she decided to make the switch to become the main event in the back field. Now, she’s a full-fledged goalie.
“I just liked to stop the ball,” she said.
Despite the many shots on her by players on the Kaua’i and Waimea high teams, Pablo only allowed two goals to pass her all season.
The first came in the Round 1, season opener against Kaua‘i when Brandi Gomes scored on a quick play in the second half. No one would score on her for the rest of the round.
The next came in the Round 2 opener when Kaua‘i’s Ashlyn Ubongen took the Raiders to a brief lead.
“I’m satisfied with her for sure,” said Marti. “She’s definitely been able to come up with big saves that help us win championships.”
Marti said that Pablo’s skills and
communication with the team is also a contributing factor to the team’s success.
“She has an excellent dive and vocally, she’s really good,” Marti said.
Kapa‘a received the No. 3 seed in the tournament rankings which were released Sunday. Because of that, the Lady Warriors receive a first-round bye.
“Our last game against Kaua‘i High was definitely our most memorable game so far,” Pablo said. “We knew we had to win it or we would be tied with them.”
It was similar to the situation they found themselves in last year before the end of the regular season.
Last year, Kapa‘a won Round 1, but Kaua‘i forced a playoff by taking Round 2.
“We always do that to ourselves,” she said. “I don’t think it really hits us (until the last games) that we have to win. It’s always a big rivalry like this.”
This year, Kapa‘a pulled it off and the Lady Warriors won an outright title and the automatic berth into the tournament.
But they still might face Kaua‘i again. Under the new system by the Hawai‘i High School Athletics Association, Kapa‘a plays in the smaller, Division II bracket and the KIF has traditionally received one tournament berth.
Similarly to the KIF, the Maui Interscholastic League has three eligible teams — Moloka‘i High School, St. Anthony High School and Seabury Hall Academy.
Kaua‘i will play Seabury Hall today and the winner of the match will also be in the tournament to play No. 2 Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy. Kaua‘i and Kapa‘a are in separate ballots which makes another rematch possible.
That doesn’t necessarily sit well with Pablo.
“What’s the point?” Pablo asked in reference to winning a championship. “It wouldn’t be anything different (if we played them again). We’re coming off-island to not play more teams from this island.”
She does admit though, that if Kapa‘a does end up playing Kaua‘i again, it will be to their advantage.
“It is an advantage for us because we already know how they play,” she said.
Pablo said she would rather play more teams, teams outside the league that offer more competition.
“We’ve been stuck (on this island),” she said. “We have something to prove: that we belong in Division I.”
The JN Automotive Group Soccer 2008 State Championships begin tomorrow at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park and Stadium.
Kapa‘a will play the winner of the Sacred Hearts Academy/Campbell High School match.
Maegan Pablo
Age: 17
Hometown: Kapa‘a
Family: Parents Jaime and Josie Pablo; one older sister
Soccer position: Goalie
Life outside of soccer: “Going to the beach definitely. I like Kealia.”
Beyond sports: “I might stay here and try to get into the nursing program (at Kaua’i Community College), or go to O‘ahu and go to Kapi’olani (Community College).”
• Lanaly Cabalo, sports editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com
