The morning undoubtedly belonged to Konawaena’s Taiana Tolleson, who is believed to be the first BIIF goalkeeper to sign with a Division I college.
But Waiakea’s Cierra Toledo-Muragin owned the afternoon.
The senior had one mandate in Wednesday’s girls soccer semifinal after Tolleson exited after a red card: shoot. Toledo-Muragin did so from all angles, hitting the crossbar and hitting the post, and in between she collected both of her team’s goals, including the game-winner in the final 15 minutes as the Warriors dethroned the three-time defending Division I champion Wildcats 2-1 to reach the championship match.
“I feel like our morale came down a little bit, but I told myself this is our game, this is our year,” Toledo-Muragin said.
The BIIF final, set for 7 p.m. Saturday night at Kealakehe, will feature rivals Hilo (10-0-0) and Waiakea (7-2-1) for the first time since 2010. The Vikings beat Kealakehe 6-3 in the other semifinal. On Jan. 26, Hilo beat Waiakea 2-1.
After securing a berth at the HHSAA tournament, the Warriors were reminded by their coaching staff that Waiakea has never won a BIIF title. The Warriors were close last season but they were denied in the final by Tolleson and the Wildcats in penalty kicks.
“It’s a tribute to our program that we’re back,” Waiakea coach Jason Nakayama said. “We know we have to dig in and play hard because Hilo is strong. We just have to play with heart and chemistry. Hopefully, we found out chemistry.”
Freshman-laden Hilo is looking for its first crown since 2011. The Vikings came close two season ago, but Tolleson and the Wildcats stood in the way in the final, winning in PKs.
It was a bittersweet day for the Wildcats’ standout goalkeeper. Tolleson signed her national letter of intent with Vanderbilt in the morning, and early in the semifinal she showed why she’s a rare Division I college soccer recruit from the Big Island as she aggressively came out of her goal to cut down throughballs and negate offensive chances. But even as the Warriors started to play less direct, Tolleson was ruled to have gotten too aggressive when she collided with Waiakea’s Evyn Prine and was ejected with more than 65 minutes remaining in the match.
Toledo-Muragin quickly took advantage of Waiakea’s 11-10 player advantage, scoring a free kick from 20 yards out on the left side.
“Taiana is known as an amazing goalkeeper,” Toledo-Muragin, “and when (the red card) happened it was to our advantage.”
The Wildcats (6-4-0) were badly outshot, but they found their footing late in the first half, and their play carried over into the second half. Konawaena’s Nalani Wall drew a yellow card on Warriors fullback Tori Teanio on a rush, and Wall buried the equalizer on a direct kick from 29 yards away.
“The younger players battled and did damn good,” Konawaena coach Guy Miranda said. “We have a good foundation.
“Maybe this loss will show them we have to work real hard next year.”
Toledo-Muragin acknowledged the goal seemed to re-energize Waiakea, which outshot Konawaena 20-1 in the second half. Waiakea’s Kaira Chang finished with two saves.
Sophomore Kiana Hoopii made six saves in relief of Tolleson, but Toledo-Muragin took advantage of a fortuitous bounce after Prine collided with a defender and slotted a shot past Hoopii from inside the box.
“It was definitely one of my busier games,” Toledo Muragin said. “It was just one of those days.”
It was as well for Tolleson, who ran directly to Hoopii after the match as the two engaged in a lengthy hug. Next stop for Tolleson: BIIF water polo. After that, it’s on to Nashville, Tenn.
“She’s got to get in shape for college,” Miranda said. “She’s got to be ready from Day 1. She’s a freshman again.”
Hilo 6, Kealakehe 3
Freshman Jordyn Pacheco completed a hat trick in the 51st minute when she took a punt from goalkeeper Ashley Mendes and scored on a breakaway at Hilo Bayfront as the Vikings cruised into the final.
Sophomore Alyeemomi Amaral’s goal in the 65th minute off a slot pass from Lauree Anne DeMattos gave the Vikings a 6-1 lead before Tiara Conn scored twice to give herself three goals in her final match for the Waveriders (2-8-0).
As usual, freshmen carried the Vikings. Miya Clarke added a goal and assist for Hilo, Glory Medeiros had a goal and Haley Miyasato and Pacheco garnered assists.