KAILUA-KONA — Makua Lani is no stranger to state play-in games. The senior laden boys squad has just missed out of making the state tournament on several occasions, while the girls team faced a similar fate one week ago, picking up a win to become state eligible. That squad had a strong tournament run, placing fifth overall in Division II.
The Makua Lani boys looked to follow a similar path on Monday with a HHSAA DII play-in game against Waianae of the OIA at Kealakehe High School. Makua Lani, the No. 3 team out of the BIIF, played the No. 3 Seariders to a 0-0 tie through regulation before winning with a goal in the first period of sudden death overtime
“I am so excited,” said Makua Lani coach Alex Dong. “I feel like this win has been coming for a long time now and I am super proud of the boys.
“This has been the goal from day-one, to make it to the state tournament,” Dong added. “We want to do well in Oahu, but the goal has been to get there.”
The victory sends the Lions to the state tournament for the first time since 2012. The Lions will face a familiar foe in the first round of the state tournament, No. 1 seed Hawaii Preparatory Academy. Game time is set for 3 p.m. Thursday at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.
Midfield play dominated most of the game, but in OT, Makua Lani (6-6-0) shined. The Lions pushed the ball up field consistently, nearly putting the game away with a header on corner kick, but the ball went off the crossbar.
The Lions finally got their game winning goal with 3:15 left in OT. After the Makua Lani keeper cleared the ball on the far side of the pitch, Loa Ng ran it down and sent a pass up to DJ Madigan, who found some room to work inside the 18. He then buried the ball into the back of the net.
“When I touched the ball I literally prayed, ‘God please help me to score this goal,” Madigan said. “I made the shot and it went in, and it was just pure joy from there. It was amazing.”
“This win means everything,” Madigan added. “For the last four years, we have lost in the semifinals in the last seconds, and I did not want our season to end now. I am really excited about going to states for the first time.”
The game got off to a late start when Waianae’s flight from Oahu was delayed. The team arrived, headed straight to the soccer field and was ready to play by 5:30 p.m., an hour later than the originally planned start time.
The first half was a midfield battle. Both teams managed runs at the goal but not with sustained success.
Makua Lani had a couple of opportunities to score early in the game. The first came when Nico Kimmich broke down the right flank on a through ball, but his kick sailed wide of the near post.
The second opportunity was the best chance by either team in the first half. Riley Pries passed up to Ng, who took the ball inside the 18. He parted two defenders for a good look at goal, but his shot sailed wide right.
Waianae (7-7-0), which had been on its heels for the first 20 minutes of the game, started to push the ball forward late in the half. However, the Seariders could not get a good look at the net, settling for several shots from 30-40 yards out, all of which were scooped up easily by the Makua Lani keeper.
The Lions had a chance to take the lead on two occasions with about five minutes to play before halftime.
The best try came when Pries took off inside with the ball from the left flank. On a delay, Kimmich came in from the right and received a pass inside the 18. He took a shot, but the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Out of the break, Waianae controlled the pace of play, picking up several corner kicks but unable to find the back of the net.
The Seariders had a great look at the net at the 20 minute mark of the second half when Jonah Bach blocked a Makua Lani pass attempt and followed the ball off the rebound for a 1-on-1 with the Lions’ keeper. However, he rushed his shot and the ball rolled harmlessly out of bounds.
With eight minutes to play, the Lions looked to take the lead when Pries passed up to Madigan in the box. Madigan turned and fired, but the ball was blocked by the Waianae keeper. The ball rebounded to another Makua Lani player, who took a shot with the keeper out of position, but a Seasiders defender filled in the gap at the net and cleared the ball.
Makua Lani continued to attack as Pries sent a cross through the box, but no one answered on the other end. It was be the last good try for either team in regulation, setting up Madigan’s heroics at the end.