KAILUA-KONA — After taking over as head coach of the Kealakehe girls soccer program last season, Kim Evans knew there would be growing pains from the start. Evans was taking over a very inexperienced team and also a program that was struggling to attract players to the sport.
In the season before Kim’s arrival, the team was without a JV squad.
While Evans was able to rectify one of those problems quickly — 38 kids came to tryouts in each of the last two seasons, which allowed the girls program to put together a JV team — building an experienced squad is a much tougher and time consuming challenge.
“Since this is my second year, I am coming into the season with a little more insight into who the girls are,” Evans said. “We are a young team, with half the girls being freshmen and sophomores, so we are just working on the basics when it comes to skill work, tactics and conditioning. Our work is cut out for us, but the girls are staying positive.”
The Waveriders opened their season on Tuesday with a 3-1 loss to Honokaa at Waverider Stadium, but the game was much closer than the final score indicated. Kealakehe trailed 1-0 for most of the match.
While the team still struggles to put curved numbers in the win column, there is growth that is starting to slowly become noticeable.
On the defensive side of the ball, junior goalkeeper Mailia Moore and senior defender Alysha Prados return after making the All-BIIF honorable mention list last season. Senior Helen Remke also returns to captain the midfield.
“Maila and Alysha are two of our captains chosen by the team,” Evans said. “They set a good example on the field and come ready to work. They also love the game and want it to be fun. They know when they need to be serious, and know when they can lighten it up a bit.
“Helen has really stepped up as a leader, to the point where she almost, at times, fills in as an assistant coach,” Evans added. “She is a big help with players who need that extra 1-on-1 time. She stays late or comes in early to help out.”
On the offensive side of the ball there is a lot of turnover, with the biggest losses coming after forward Brittney Prados and midfielder Tiara Conn — both All-BIIF honorable mentions — graduated in the spring.
Both Prados and Conn were known for their speed and aggressiveness, and with Conn, the team lost a four-year starter.
“Brittney and Tiara are missed, but it is like they are still around,” Evans said. “The girls still talk about them, even if they are not here physically, and they remember the things they learned from them.”
Looking to fill the void on offense is sophomore Breana Arakawa, who showed strong ball handling skills and penchant for getting open up the field against Honokaa.
“Breana was a cross country runner and comes in very fit, is quick off the mark, very aggressive, and loves the game,” Evans said. “Sometimes she plays mid and sometimes she plays forward. She loves to attack and I love her energy out there.”
Arakawa worked well on on the pitch with a freshman trio, Amanda Schiff, Meiling Kam and Sedona Harris. The trio found themselves all over the field on Tuesday.
“These three girls come in with a level of skill that we can use,” Evans said. “They are eager to play, work hard and have earned their spots.”
The Waveriders are using four captains on the field this year, all chosen by other players on the team. Joining Prados, Moore and Remke as the fourth captain is junior Anna Moon.
“Anna is still working on her game, but she doesn’t give up and is continually asking for feedback, which is refreshing as a coach,” Evans said. “She has also given back to the community as a coach, so she is one of the few players who knows what it is like to teach and learn.”
“With these four girls we have a really good balance,” Evans said. “They are really dedicated to the team.”
Honokaa took a 1-0 lead in the first half of the match when Puaena Kapu scored an empty net goal. Terri Connors started the play by breaking free down the left line with no defenders in front of her, which pulled the keeper from the net. She attempted a shot that was blocked by Moore, but the ball ricocheted to a waiting Kapu inside the box.
In the second half, the Dragons scored twice within a four minute period. The first of the two goals came off a corner kick with Tasha Ohta finishing the play with 16:37 on the clock. The second goal came with 12:47 to play when Kapu scored for the second time.
Kealakehe added its only goal with just over two minutes to go. Kaimana Caceres was taken down in the box, setting up a penalty kick. Prados took the shot and put the ball in the upper left-hand corner.