After playing two home matches and going relatively unchallenged, Christian Liberty was primed to play in a new setting under different conditions.
The results, however, were familiar ones: another hat trick for Nakaiya Kerr and more domination from the Canefire.
Junior Louis Moylan added two goals Tuesday, and sophomore Sequoya Kerr tallied three assists as Christian Liberty shut out Waiakea 7-0 in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation boys soccer match.
The Warriors’ boys and girls teams are playing their home matches this season at a St. Joseph High School field Canefire coach Troy Rimel called much less bumpy than Christian Liberty’s pitch in Keaau.
“We were really excited to see what we could do on a smooth surface,” Rimel said. “It was fun to be able to possess the ball and be able to play against a team that possesses the ball.”
The teams had played to draws the past three seasons, but the seasoned Canefire (3-0) simply overwhelmed rebuilding Waiakea (0-4), which is undergoing a youth movement after consecutive BIIF Division I runner-up finishes.
Junior Kekoa Mundo added his second goal of the season, and senior fullback Tim Jittu scored his first for Christian Liberty, which looks in midseason form as it tries to improve on last year’s Division II runner-up finish. Senior goalkeeper Keanu Bergfeld collected his second shutout.
No matter the surface, the Canefire have been clicking on all cylinders, particularly junior forwards Nakaiya Kerr (team-high eight goals) and Moylan (four). “They’re firing very well,” Rimel said.
c Kamehameha-Hawaii 2, Keaau 2: With visiting Keaau trailing 2-1, the Cougars’ Matthew Shimabukuro scored off a penalty kick with about 3 minutes remaining.
Liam Kenoi had given the Warriors (1-2-1) the lead in the second half with his second goal of the season.
In the first half, Kamehameha’s Kawika Finley scored off a penalty kick for his second goal, and Christian Agudo found the net for Keaau (1-2-1).
c Hilo 9, Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science 0: Senior Lorrin Pajimola tallied his first two goals of the season, and seven other players found the back of the net to power the Vikings (3-0) at Hilo Bayfront.
Seniors Justin Shiigi, Spike Boyd, Kaiawe Miyasaki and Sean Resureccion; junior Kaulu Ontai; and freshmen Arris Aynessazian and River Brown all scored for the first time this season for Hilo.
Senior Katon Pestano and freshman Brandon Baca shared goalkeeping duties to shut out Na Naia (0-4).
Girls
c Waiakea 9, Christian Liberty 0: Sophomore Jordan Melchor scored three goals as the Warriors improved to 2-3.
One match after netting a hat trick of her own, junior Cheylee Octavio added her team-high fourth goal of the season. Senior Stacia Deponte, juniors Karise Kuroda, Nikki Orevillo and Kylie Robertson, and sophomore Sabrina Scott also scored.
Freshman Kadara Marshall shut out the Canefire (0-4) in goal.
c Kamehameha-Hawaii 7, Keaau 0: Senior Kera Akiyama, junior Harper Hottendorf and sophomore Sachi Iwata each scored twice for the host Warriors, who improved to 3-1.
Freshman Makena Wagner scored Kamehameha’s other goal, while seniors Lehua McGuire and Elizabeth Kia blanked the Cougars (2-2) in goal.
