HILO – Nanea Tavares popped, flashed, flicked and scored, and finally Hawaii Prep had jumped over the state championship hump.
That transcendent soccer moment for Ka Makani was almost five years ago, and looking back the rest of the Division II girls field hadn’t seen anything yet.
When HPA, now a five-time state champion, gathers in preseason practice these days, the girls remind themselves of something else: We haven’t done anything yet.
“We always say, so far this team has done nothing,” junior co-captain Jenna Perry said, “so that’s how we approach every game.
“Before practice every day, we have a quote of the day, the quote has always been about how this team has done nothing. We need to prove it now.”
Longtime coach Stephen Perry remembers Tavares’ golden goal against Mid-Pacific in overtime of the 2014 final as the “trigger” to all the success that’s followed.
“Who knows what would happen if we lost that game?” he said. “We had some good teams, we just put ourselves in position to compete. I give the girls the credit, they keep finding a way to pull out a close one or get the goal that we need.”
Contrary to popular belief, HPA doesn’t just roll out of bed and roll to state titles.
Sure, Ka Makani could test the waters at Division I, but Coach Perry points out that the competitive level of D-II is perfect for his program. Four of HPA’s five state titles have come by one-goal margins – two against Kamehameha-Hawaii, including last season – and they missed on a ninth consecutive BIIF D-II title last season when the Warriors won in penalty kicks. In 2017, Kamehameha was the better team during the regular season, but Ka Makani got hot when it counted.
“It’s just looking at those three days on Oahu, to be honest,” Perry said.
HPA is usually a well-oiled machine when it gets there, then Ka Makani turns it up a notch.
“I go to states with almost all the seasons, what I notice most with the soccer team is that they want to win,” Jenna Perry said. “It’s not a shopping spree, it’s not, “Oh, we’re on Oahu, we made it to states. It’s, OK, now we work.”’
Perry returns to her role at center mid, and onlookers may want to pay extra attention to the scoring prowess of players such her, juniors Angela Cipriano and Kahale Wash and sophomore Bella Police considering all the attention opposing teams are going to pay to marking senior striker Emi Higgins.
The two-time BIIF Division II player of year not only has a knack for scoring big goals, but also opening up the field for others.
“We have people who are going to love that,” Stephen Perry said. “I think we have more weapons (than last season) if needed that can step up and finish one for you.”
Higgins, who has 10 goals in nine career games at states, could be paired up top with freshman Catie Moynahan or Cipriano, a first-year student at HPA who is “energetic and great addition,” her coach said.
Jenna Perry’s first priority at midfield is always defense, though she may have to concern herself more on the offensive end with the graduation of Jordan Zarate, while Walsh will try join Police as a threat on the outside.
Zarate brought a physical presence last season, but HPA isn’t lacking in size this season, not with players such as Higgins, Walsh, Jenna Perry, Makana Blake and goalkeeper Maia Mills.
”Jenna is great in traffic,” her coach/father, “kind of like a Zarate, good base and very tough to get off the ball.”
If there is a relative concern for HPA entering the season, it’s at fullback, though the last line of defense, junior goalkeeper Maia Mills, can provide a security blanket of sorts.
In front of Mills, sophomore Alianna West moves to center back alongside senior Zoe Ganley, sophomore Malia Brost could play outside back or hold more of an attacking role, and freshman Ruby Helmuth has made a strong bid to lock down a spot at outside back.
“If we solidify (the fullbacks) and get them used to each other,” Stephen Perry said, “I think we’ll be good back there.
“Maia in goal, she’s grown this year in the sense of strength, more experience, more confidence.”
Mills could see time in the midfield thanks to the quality depth provided by freshman goalkeepers Sarah Kiernan and Regan Riley.
Jenna Perry lost one sister/teammate – Julia Perry was a rock at center back before graduating – but gains another in freshman Jordan Perry, who will see playing time at outside back or mid.
HPA is up to its typically consistent ways in the preseason. Ka Mamani dipped down to Hilo for a match at the Hilo Bay Classic, beating Kauai on Saturday, and its the two-time defending champion at its Ka Makani Soccer Classic, which runs Friday through Sunday in Waimea.
“I think this is a developing year for us,” Jenna Perry said, “so we’re having a little bit of a problem of which personalities are going to be the dominant ones, just because we’re used to that last senior class being them.
“So I think that everyone is just trying to fall into place right now, but everyone is willing to work together, so it won’t be problem.”
It never is for HPA, though it’s been noted these Ka Makani haven’t accomplished anything …. yet.
