KEALAKEKUA — The celebration really said it all.
As the final second ticked off the clock at Julian Yates Field, the Konawaena sideline erupted, running towards their own net and forming a mountain-high dog pile. Minutes later, Konawaena head coach Dan Curran found himself soaked from a Gatorade shower as his players literally did excitement-fueled backflips.
For the first time in the program’s four-year history, the Konawaena lacrosse team was victorious, taking down Big Island rival Hawaii Preparatory Academy with a dominant 8-1 performance on Friday night.
“We have had overtime games and some close calls, but finally we broke through. This was a heck of a way to get our first win. I’m so proud of these boys,” Curran said. “I think our kids are really starting to gel and get some momentum.”
Senior Dominic Delacruz led the way for the Wildcats, tallying four goals to go with more than a handful of big hits.
Delacruz, like most of his teammates, said it just felt natural when he first picked up the lacrosse stick.
“I have to think that man over there,” Delacruz said, pointing to his head coach. “He taught us this game and I’m so happy to be playing. Right when I picked up the stick and started passing around the ball, I knew it was for me.”
It was a similar sentiment from his teammate, Kai Clifford.
“I play football, so I liked that it involved the contact but also some elements of finesse, like soccer,” Clifford said.
Under the lights in Kealakekua, the team’s put on a show in front of a large crowd, most newbies to the sport.
“Can he hit him like that with his stick?” one spectator asked.
The physicality of the sport was certainly on display during the game, with some bone-crushing open field hits and consistent slashes with the sticks.
For Delacruz and Clifford, both football players, it would be expected for them to enjoy the contact the sport provides. But for Delacruz, his favorite part of the game turns out to be something he’s pretty good at.
“I just love scoring goals,” Delacruz said. “There’s nothing like that feeling.”
The Wildcats will go for win No. 2 next weekend in Waimea, when Punahou visits Hawaii Prep’s field for a pair of games against the Big Island teams.
“I think we just have to keep working and act like we have been there before,” Curran said. “We can only build off of this.”