Girls soccer has good senior night, pulls into first place tie
KSM-3 MHS-2
Photo by Alyssa Urayanza
Ilihia Keawekane (10) and Jordyn Pa’a (11) fight for the ball in Tuesday night’s game. It was also Senior Night for the Warriors and they showed they’re pride by coming out on top with a score of 3-2 against the Maui High Sabers.
The KSM girls soccer team ended their senior night with a bang by beating the Maui High Sabers 3-2 in last night’s game. Previously, the Sabers were the only team to beat the Warriors this season with a final score of 2-1 in their last game.
“They’re the only team that beat us in the first round, so we definitely wanted to beat them this time to make sure we are able to beat everybody in the league,” head coach Jayson Nakasone said.
“We always got the same plan: to control the game, possess the ball, and score as many goals as possible, but sometimes we go off plan and come across a team that pressures us high and that can actually do something, so we went a little bit off plan, but we still pulled it off,” he said.
The game started off on a fast pace with the ball being passed back and forth between the teams. Warrior Ilihia Keawekane managed to score the first goal of the game against the Sabers, but due to an offsides foul, it didn’t count.
Junior Leialoha Medeiros scored the first official point for the Warriors. Ocean Dudoit scored the first point for the Maui High Sabers with an assist from Chai Cortez, bringing the score to 1-1.
Following the goals were several shot attempts from both the Warriors and the Sabers, and a free kick from the Warriors, none of which found its way to the back of the net. The first half ended with both sides tied at 1-1.
The second half opened to three shot attempts by the Sabers, only to be blocked by Kamehameha goalie Makamae Aquino. Senior Quinn Williams scored the second goal for the Warriors on a beautiful pass from Kamalei Roback, and after more shots on goal, Keawekane scored again for the Warriors with an assist from Kiana Over, giving the Warriors a two-point lead.
The Warriors kept their lead until the last two minutes of the game when Jordyn Pa’a scored for the Maui High Sabers, bringing the final score to 3-2 with the Warriors coming out victorious.
“We did a lot better than the last time we played them,” Aquino said. “I think last time we just came out flat, and we weren’t prepared, but this time we really showed them we know how to play, and this was a much better prediction of how things should have been.”
“We just knew what we needed to do to take care of business. We just wanted to play our style, possess the ball, pass the ball. Just play with heart. Play for each other. Play for the team,” she said.
Next week, the Warriors will play against Baldwin. The two teams are currently tied for first place.
The Warriors’ only three seniors are Williams, Jrae Viela, and Kekai Aquino.
“Tonight is probably my favorite soccer memory,” Viela said. “I’m gonna miss [everyone] next year. I love them.”
