KEALAKEKUA — The Kealakehe Waveriders have been on a roll, and it continued Saturday night with a dominating 6-1 victory over the hosting Konawaena Wildcats at Julian Yates Field.
Kealakehe jumped out to a four goal lead against its crosstown rival in the first half, led by two-time All-BIIF Player of the Year Laukoa Santos. Santos scored two goals in the opening frame and nearly had two more if not for a pair of athletic, diving saves by Konawaena keeper Alan Cancino-Magana.
Santos did score another pair of goals in the second half, netting his hat-trick early in the second frame and his fourth goal with about 10 minutes to play. He has eight goals in his last two games.
“I have just been in the grove I guess,” said Santos, who also played three games in the For Kona From Kona Indoor Soccer Tournament earlier in the day at the Old Airport Park hockey rink. “My midfield is starting to click and we are looking pretty good.”
The game opened in surprising fashion, with the Wildcats pushing the ball up the pitch. Konawaena controlled the early possessions, managing a few attempts on the net, including a corner kick, but they could not get the ball past Waverider keeper Skyler Troy Canario-Pavao.
The tide turned about 10 minutes into the half and three minutes later Kealakehe picked up its first goal off the foot of Eima Kozakai. On a cross to the far side of the box, Kozakai turned his body into the ball, directing it into the net at the near post to give his team a 1-0 advantage.
At the 18 minute mark of the game, Iokepa Perez-Juarez-Aponte scored the second goal for the Waveriders from inside the 18 after camping out in front of the net.
Just over a minute later, Santos scored his first goal, while also showing off his speed and footwork. Santos took off from midfield on a breakaway and quickly outdistanced himself from any defender. The keeper came out to cut the senior off, but Santos passed to himself by popping the ball over Canario-Pavao’s head. After tracking down the ball, Santos kicked it into the open net.
Santos just missed out on two goals over the next 10 minutes, but did find the net five minutes before the break to put Kealakehe up 4-0 at halftime.
The game was more evenly matched to start the second half. Yuki Lavoie showed some nice agility on a play with 30 minutes to go when he darted down the sideline. Lavoie skirted the line and then broke inside, leaping over a fallen Konawaena defender, before taking a shot at goal. However, the ball missed its mark, going into the side of the net.
Four minutes later, Santos picked up his hat-trick in another 1-on-1 with the keeper. Taking the ball away from Konawaena, Santos took a shot just outside the six for his team’s fifth goal.
Konawaena broke the shutout with a goal around the midway point of the second half. Logan Takizawa took a shot from about 25 yards out, sending the ball on a beeline over the Waverider keeper’s outstretched hand and into the upper, far corner of the net.
The Wildcats nearly added a second goal when Harry Hill took a free kick. From 40 yards out, the ball curved perfectly toward the goal, but sailed just over the crossbar, falling into the backside of the net, which looked like a goal to many of the fans in the stands.
With 18 minutes to play, Takizawa almost had his second score when he stole the ball from a Kealakehe player and broke free down the right side. He took a hard shot at the net, but Canario-Pavao managed to dive down and make the save.
Konawaena’s keeper continued to play like it was a 0-0 score late in the game, making a pair of diving saves as the Waveriders started breaking more freely down the field as the clock ticked away.
With 10 minutes to go, Santos added his final goal off a rebound. Kealakehe’s Cyrus Sobrepena broke free down the left side of the field chasing a through ball. He caught up with it but the Konawaena keeper came out to meet him and blocked the shot with his foot. However, the ball bounced to the center of the pitch, right to Santos, who was about 30 yards out. Santos sent a shot into the left side of the open net to give his team a five goal lead.
“This was a very good team effort,” said Kealakehe head coach Alden Sawada. “We came out with good intensity to start the first and second half and we just have to continue to match that intensity.”
Girls
Konawaena 8, Kealakehe 0
Seven different players found the back of the net in Konawaena’s shutout victory over visiting Kealakehe at Julian Yates Field on Saturday.
The game was a big night for the three seniors members of the Wildcat squad, not just because their team was hosting Senior Night, but also because all three players managed to score in the game.
Keliyah Kimitete led the trio with two goals. The starting forward was the only player to score multiple times in the game.
“Keliyah is a two sport star and has played on several championship teams with us and with volleyball,” said Konawaena head coach Guy Miranda. “Her hard work has continued to pay off through her four years on the team.”
The other two seniors, Haena Keawekane and Casey Fraga-Saldivar, netted one goal each. Keawekane, a forward/midfielder put the Wildcats out front early with the first goal of the game.
“Haena’s dad told me after the game to tell her every game was Senior Night so she would shoot more.” Miranda said laughing. “Haena is one of my captains and she scored on a beautifully ripped ball to get us going.”
Fraga-Saldivar plays in the midfield for the Wildcats but still managed to get in on the scoring action.
“Casey has been with us three years and she has endured all the torture I have put her through and continued to come back,” Miranda said. “She played a hell of a game and just missed an opportunity to have two goals. She has had three years of really hard work.”