Something about playing a man short seems to make Honokaa’s boys soccer team stronger.
The Dragons took a one-goal lead in the first half Saturday, quickly lost a player to a red card and then recovered to beat Christian Liberty 3-1 in a battle of Big Island Interscholastic Federation unbeatens at Honokaa.
“We seem to play better with just 10,” coach Maurice Miranda said after the Dragons (5-0-1) won to hold onto first place in Division II.
Honokaa also persevered to beat Konawaena Dec. 17 after having a player ejected.
“Our players’ will goes up and we know how to deal with adversity,” Miranda said. “It’s what comes with having a lot of seniors.”
Tony Connors, Kyle Ohta and Preston Branco scored for Honokaa. Connors took a pass from Branco and dribbled through the defense and beat the goalkeeper to put his team ahead in about the 20th minute.
About five minutes later, however, the Dragons found themselves down a player when Seanry Agbayani went off with a red card.
Miranda said his team maintained possession and carried play despite the disadvantage.
“We’re going to see Christian Liberty again in the playoffs, so the thing we’re going to take away from this game is that we can overcome,” Miranda said.
Ohta scored off a corner kick in the second half.
Nakaiya Kerr scored on a penalty kick for the Canefire (3-1) late in the match to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Branco gave Honokaa a two-goal lead again when he ran down a throughball and chipped it over the goalkeeper.
Kealakehe 4,
Kamehameha 1
Scott Henderson recorded a hat trick as the visiting Waveriders improved to 6-0.
The Warriors (2-1-4) entered the match unbeaten, but Kealakehe scored twice in each half, including a goal by Marc Takahashi.
“They were able to do some good combination plays and finish very well,” Kamehameha coach Mario Patino said. “Our big downfall is we were not fit enough to keep up with them.”
Phil Aganus scored for the Warriors.
Waiakea 4, Makua Lani 1
Seniors Hajime Hayano and Samuel Mastuura accounted for a goal apiece, and freshmen Gehrig Octavio and Max Adolf also scored to lift the visiting Warriors (4-2).
Goalkeeper Chris Wung stopped a penalty kick to thwart the Lions (2-2-1).
Konawaena 5, Ka‘u 0
The Wildcats (4-2-1) got contributions from five goalscorers — Sergio Garcia, Logan Takizawa, John Repogle, Dang Nguyen and Chris Higuchi — in a home win against the Trojans (2-7-0). Konawaena goalkeeper Jarren Udac recorded the shutout.
Hawaii Preparatory Academy 9, Hawaii Academy of Arts &Science 0
Ghar Pautz starting the scoring spree in Waimea, and Ka Makani also got goals from eight other players.
Brandon Melton, Brendan Moynahan, Zen Simon, Josh Lawrence, Noah Wise, Alex Brost, Kama Hurwitz, Kama Kahoe-Morrison all found the back of the net for HPA (4-0-2), and Dyllon Ching kept his goal clean against Na Naia (0-8).
Keaau 2, Parker 2
In Waimea, the Bull (0-6-1) earned their first point of the season, while the Cougars moved to 2-4-1. Scorers were not available at press time.
Kohala at Hilo
A score was not reported by the host Vikings.
Girls
Kealakehe 3, Kamehameha 0
Lexi Cuaresma tallied two goals at Paiea Field in Keaau for the Waveriders (3-1-2), who are unbeaten in their past four matches.
Vailana Akeo-Tartuna also scored as Kealakehe dropped Kamehameha (2-3-1) below .500.
Waiakea 9, Makua Lani 0
Cheylee Octavio notched her third five-goal game of the season as the visiting Warriors remained unbeaten.
Kadara Marshall added two goals for Waiakea (4-0-1), and Kylie Robertson and Cierra Toledo-Muragin each scored once.
Jordan Melchor earned the shutout against the Lions (1-5).
Hilo 10, Kohala 0
Mehana Sabado-Halpern netted a hat trick and added an assist to power the Vikings.
Delcee Ramos and Taylor Matas each compiled two goals and an assist, while Jasmine Smeraglia, Lolly Higa and Lii Maertens all scored one apiece for Hilo (4-1-1). Shylia Bautista, Serena Nasworthy and Camille Martinez had assists.
Jordyn Breitbarth and Danielle Brown combined in shutting out the Cowgirls (1-6).
Ka‘u at Konawaena
A score was not reported by the host Wildcats.
By Stephens Media Hawaii sources