HANAPEPE — Kapaa High School’s varsity girls soccer team defeated Waimea, 10-1, Wednesday afternoon at Hanapepe Stadium to win the school’s third consecutive Kauai Interscholastic Federation girls soccer championship. The league title is also the second under head coach Mytra
HANAPEPE — Kapaa High School’s varsity girls soccer team defeated Waimea, 10-1, Wednesday afternoon at Hanapepe Stadium to win the school’s third consecutive Kauai Interscholastic Federation girls soccer championship.
The league title is also the second under head coach Mytra McKeague.
“I think the girls work hard. They deserve it,” McKeague said.
Warriors junior forward April Barnes netted a hat trick in Wednesday’s match, scoring two of her three goals in the waning minutes of the second half.
“We’re really happy. We’re definitely working at practice and preparing for states and everything,” Barnes said.
Kapaa (10-1-0 KIF) also got two goals from junior forward Brianna Binder and the others from five different scorers.
“We’re trying some different things — personnel in different positions, trying to see and think of the different options we’re going to have and have to overcome up at states,” McKeague said.
Menehune freshman forward Tori Ann Ishikawa scored the lone goal for Waimea (0-11-0 KIF).
Waimea was awarded a free kick in the second half just outside the 18-yard box. Ishikawa took the kick and put a shot toward goal and passed the Warriors goalkeeper.
“I think we improved a lot over the season,” Ishikawa said. “I think next year, we’ll improve more.”
Waimea head coach William Trugillo said his team put out its best effort for the its last home game of the season.
“Can’t take anything away from Kapaa. Kapaa played well,” he said. “We came out flat. During the second half, our girls picked it up. We were just having fun.”
Wednesday was senior day for Waimea’s varsity girls. Two Menehune seniors played their final home game — defender Bree Ann Cayaban and goalkeeper Cherie Lagmay.
“Bree’s been with us, I think, three years. She’s been co-captain for two years. She’s done well — a good, steady performer,” Trugillo said. “Cherie, this is her first year playing soccer at all. She played the bulk of our minutes as goalie. She picked up the sport well. Good, athletic kid.”
No cards were issued in the match.
Kapaa will host Island School at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, and Waimea will play Kauai High at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Vidinha Stadium to conclude the KIF girls soccer season.
Scoring summary
Kapaa: April Barnes 3 (31’, 75’, 78’), Brianna Binder 2 (40’, 63’), Alexis Yadao (35’), Natalie Devin (38’), Kaylee Overmyer (40’), Talia Washington (47’), Kela Wood (80’)
Waimea: Tori Ann Ishikawa (50’)
Varsity boys: Waimea edges Kapaa 2-0 to stay atop league standings
With just one more round of matches remaining in the regular season, the Menehune boys are the current frontrunners.
Waimea High School’s varsity boys soccer team beat Kapaa, 2-nil, Wednesday following the varsity girls match in Hanapepe.
“Just really proud of how we came together,” said Waimea head coach Kapono Chong-Hanssen. “We’re missing two of our best players (senior forward Carl Mecham and senior midfielder Justin Fune) because of accumulation of yellow cards. So, played without them. We had a plan and executed. We pretty much got what we wanted.
“It didn’t come easy. Kapaa played well. They were missing one of their players, too. I think they only had two subs,” he continued. “It’s sort of the converse situation when we played them the last time. We only had two subs. That’s hard no matter what.”
Waimea (5-1-3 KIF) scored a goal in each half. The first was scored at the 33rd minute by junior forward Galen Agtunong from inside the penalty area off a Menehune throw-in.
The second was netted by junior forward Austin Galas at the 47th minute from around the edge of the 18-yard box.
“I know if was off some kind of cross. I just saw it coming to me. I told myself to stay over the ball and put it to the back of the net,” Galas said. “It felt really good. Yeah.”
Kapaa (2-6-1 KIF) had a couple of scoring chances off free kicks during the first half.
Warriors junior midfielder Gabe Franklin took one at the 13th minute, and senior defender Tiernan Kehoe had one at the 30th minute. Both shots curled just wide of the near-side post.
“There were some bright spots out there,” said Kapaa head coach Kevin Cram. “In the first half, we had a couple of striking opportunities that we just didn’t convert. We created opportunities, though we didn’t convert them. As I’ve said all season — my intent and goal is to get them to play better as individuals and as a team so next year, they’ll be that much further ahead. I see the progress, which is a positive.”
With just three games left in the season, Cram hopes his team can get a win against the one team they haven’t beaten thus far.
“I would be happy if we could beat each team once,” he said. “We’ve done that against Waimea. We’ve done it against Kauai. We have one more chance against Island. The fact that they could win the match is, again, a positive. That’s, to me, that would be good — that they can play with any team at this level. Whereas at the beginning of the season, I wasn’t sure that was the case. But nearing the end of the season, I know they can.”
Waimea senior forward Isaiah Duldulao and senior midfielder Cody Taniguchi were each issued yellow cards for unsporting conduct.
Waimea will play Kauai High at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, and Kapaa will host Island School at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Vidinha Stadium.
Scoring summary
Waimea: Galen Agtunong (33’), Austin Galas (47’)
