The Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I girls soccer playoff picture is becoming clearer, but it’s still a three-team chase heading to the final day of the regular season.
Taylor Matas netted a hat trick Tuesday as Hilo quickly handled its business in a 14-0 victory against Ka‘u on Senior Day at Hilo Bayfront.
Camille Martinez scored twice for the Vikings (8-1-1, 25 points), who got goals from 11 different players to reclaim sole possession of first place in Division I.
Hilo finishes the regular season Saturday at HPA and can lock down the outright championship and a berth to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association tournament with a win or draw. A Vikings loss would open the door for Konawaena (6-1-2, 20 points) and Waiakea (7-2-1, 22 points). Those two teams finish the regular season Saturday with a match at the Warriors’ field. The Wildcats host Makua Lani today.
With its win Tuesday, Hilo is assured of at least the No. 2 seed and a home match in the BIIF semifinals Jan. 29. The Vikings had to hit the road for the semifinals the past two years and lost each time to miss out on states.
Freshman Grace Watanabe capped the victory in the 39th minute in what was the final match of the season for the Trojans (0-11). Delcee Ramos, Jordyn Breitbarth, Harley Dela Cruz, Alysha Medeiros, Jasmine Smeraglia, Evyn-Bree Helekahi-Kaiwi, Savannah Toussaint-Adviento and Lauree Anne DeMattos also found the back of the net.
Breitbarth was credited with the shutout, while Shylia Bautista notched two assists.
Kealakehe 9, Kohala 0
Lexie Cuaresma’s hat trick sparked the Waveriders (6-1-3) in Kapaau.
Sulley Schuster recorded the shutout against the Cowgirls — whose season is over at 1-10 — and also tallied her first goal of the season, and Kailii Smith, Vailana Akea-Taetuna, Tiara Conn, Alysa Gamache and Bethany Davis also scored.
Kealakehe still has faint hopes of hosting a Division I playoff game, but it will most likely take to the road Jan. 29 in the semifinals.
Kamehameha 3, Keaau 0
Goals by Kekai Wong Yuen, Harper Hottendorf and JC Kerr highlighted the fourth straight victory for the host Warriors (6-3-1).
Anuhea Leite-AhYo secured the shutout against the Cougars (4-5-1).
BOYS
Kealakehe 9, Kohala 0
Laukoa Santos bagged a hat trick as the visiting Waveriders (10-0-1) remained in first place in Division I.
Alex Grace-Double, Scott Henderson, Daniel Caudell, Nick Joersz and Kyle Nickelson also scored for Kealakehe.
Greyson Moore and Ian Denzler kept their sheets clean against the Cowboys, who finished their season 2-11.
Kamehameha 5, Keaau 0
Koa Thompson’s first hat trick of the season lifted the host Warriors past the Cougars.
Logan Uyetake and Liam Kenoi also scored for Kamehameha (5-2-5), which climbed into a tie for second in Division II but has only regular-season match remaining.
Sean Miday and Jonah Knell combined in blanking Keaau (3-8-1).
Hilo 8, Ka‘u 1
River Brown, Kinohi Betts and Kaulu Ontai each scored two goals to spark the Vikings (9-1-1) on Senior Day at Hilo Bayfront.
Casey Nakatsu and Hunter Grosskreutz also found the back of the net for Hilo.
The Trojans finished their season at 3-10.