KEALAKEKUA — The west side rivalry game between Kealakehe and Konawaena had higher stakes than usual Thursday night.
By the time the game kicked off at Julian Yates Field as the latest match scheduled on the final day of the regular season, the Waveriders new they felt they had a chance to improve their playoff positioning, while the Wildcats knew they would be playing to keep their season alive.
Earlier in the day, Hawaii Preparatory Academy took care of Waiakea and Kohala survived Makua Lani with a draw. Both games played a part in late match.
With Waiakea losing, Kealakehe had a chance to claim the third seed in the BIIF Division I playoffs and not play Ka Makani in the D-I semifinals on Monday. They already had the fourth seed locked up.
Konawaena felt the sting of Kohala’s tie. The draw meant Konawaena needed at least a win to advance to the BIIF Division II playoffs or a draw against their cross-town rival for a chance at a play-in game with either the Cowboys or Honokaa.
The Waveriders dominated possession, especially in the second half, pulling away for a 2-0 victory behind persistent pressure and a costly Wildcats penalty in the second half.
“We did not know what happened in the HPA game beforehand but we trusted they would take care of business so we could claim the third seed,” said Kealakehe head coach Hayato Fukumitsu. “A lot of things were happening, it was a big day for the seeds, but we just stayed focus on our game so it was business as usual.”
The win sets the Waveriders (9-3-2) up with No. 2 seed Hilo (11-2-1) in a Monday game on the east side for a spot in the BIIF championship.
“Playing Hilo will be great. They are a great competitor and it is just great to be able to play in the playoffs,” Fukumitsu said. “I am proud of the boys with how far they have come but we still have a lot of work to do. We want to get to that championship game.”
The loss ends the season for the Wildcats (5-10-0), who are edged out off the playoffs with a fifth place finish in D-II.
“This was a great season and a development season,” said Konawaena head coach Tod Ichishita. “They had to go through several trials, which made them stronger and I appreciate their effort.”
The Waveriders pressed the ball up the pitch early and often in the first half behind the play of freshman striker Kaisei Kelly.
Kelly had three shots at the goal in a short span with the first coming at the 11 minute mark off a kick from just outside the box. The line drive sailed wide of the mark. Four minutes later, Kelly broke free inside the 18. He floated the ball over the only defender in front of him, but it sailed just over the crossbar.
Kelly’s best opportunity came with 15 minutes remaining before the break. Off a free kick from just outside the left corner of the 18, he sent a bullet into the Konawaena keeper. The ball was deflected and sent back to the net by another Waverider player, but the keeper made a second save to survive the onslaught.
Kealakehe’s best opportunity to put a crooked number on the scoreboard came with six minutes to go in the half. Sophomore Alexander Bell moved around a defender and dribbled the ball to the six, where he attempted to put a strike into the corner. However, the ball hit the near post and rolled out of bounds.
Konawaena managed a few runs down the pitch during the opening 40 minutes, but could never get a clear shot off.
Still tied coming out of the break, Kealakehe took the lead seven minutes into the second half on a penalty kick with senior Eima Kozakai tapping the ball into the lower right corner.
“Alex Bell had a great run in. Their defense had a hard time keeping up with him and he was tackled from behind,” Fukumitsu said. “Eima, our captain, then converted and we were happy about that.”
Sophomore Adam Foster sent a bullet in from the 18 just a minute later but the Wildcat keeper scooped it up.
At the midway point of the half, Kealakehe picked up an insurance goal off a corner kick. Freshman Matthew Enriquez took the kick and the ball went off the body of senior Teddy Rubenstein, who deflected it just enough to slip the ball into the near corner.
“This was a very physical game and we had to have our younger class step up,” Rubenstein said. “Everyone was really stoked to play this game because it is Kona vs. Kona. We stepped up the second half and put the game away.”
Konawaena mounted some offense late in the half when sophomore D’Marco Mireles put a good foot on the ball from the 18 with 11 minutes remaining. The ball missed high by about two feet.
“We knew exactly what we needed to do entering the game and we tried to do it,” Ichishita said. “They played their hearts out but unfortunately we came up a little short.
“I felt like our play on the field was just as good as Kealakehe’s today. We had our moments but we got two unfortunate calls,” Ichishita added. “They fought to the end and next year I expect us to be right in the running. We just reached our peak a little late this season.”
