KAILUA-KONA — The road to a seventh consecutive BIIF title is still open for Kealakehe, albeit it’s one the Waveriders (4-5-2) are not used to navigating.
Behind first half goals from Kean Schutte and Brayan Munoz, Kealakehe battled through some wet weather to score a 2-0 win over Konawaena at Waverider Stadium in a Division I play-in game on Saturday afternoon.
Schutte put away a penalty kick, while Munoz unleashed a free kick blast from about 20 yards out in the contest that the Waveriders controlled for most of the 80 minutes.
The win secures the No. 4 seed in the D-I playoffs for the Waveriders. Kealakehe will face top seeded Hawaii Preparatory Academy (10-0) on 3 p.m. on Tuesday in Waimea.
In the other matchup, cross-town rivals Waiakea (5-3-2) and Hilo will meet for the second spot in the final.
Kealakehe is the six-time defending D-I champs on the Big Island, but their quest for No. 7 got significantly harder this season when Ka Makani bumped up divisions. Hawaii Prep took both matchups between the teams this season.
Hawaii Prep is coming off two state championship seasons playing in Division II.