Water Polo has senior night victory over Maui High
Photo by Kainoa Deguilmo
Senior Lia Ikeda shoots the ball against Maui High on Thurday April 21 at Pi’ilani Pool. The Maui Warriors won their senior night game, 8-4.
The water polo team beat Maui High, 8-4, on today at Pi’ilani Pool. This was the Warriors’ final game of the regular season, and they finished in third place.
“They played fantastic today,” Warriors head coach Allyn Kalaiwaa said. “They showed ho’omau and ha’aha’a, and they played extremely well.”
The Warriors will be playing King Kekaulike on Tuesday at home to start off the MIL tournament. The winner of the tournament will be going to the state competition.
The game was a close physical match at the beginning but the Warriors outlasted the Sabers through the four periods.
“Our team wasn’t as big coming into this game as we would have preferred,” Coach Kalaiwaa said, “but we showed our depth today.”
Senior Lia Ikeda provided many of the Warriors’ points in the victory.
“[Ikeda] is definitely someone we can count on for movement and opportunities for the team,” Coach Kalaiwaa said. “She has been a leader in and out of the pool this season.”
The Warriors are entering the tournament with momentum after this win over Maui High.
“We can do it,” Coach Kalaiwaa said. “Even when we’re down and losing, we can still make amazing things happen.”
Senior Lia Ikeda was also satisfied with the team’s victory.
“Going into this game, we knew it would be a battle,” she said. “But we gave 110%, and I’m so proud of our girls.”
With her last year of high school water polo and a victory on senior night, Ikeda said this win means the world to her.
“I’m just so happy right now,” she said.
Coach Kevin Drake, Maui High’s head coach said he was still proud of his girls despite the loss.
“I thought they played well, the defense was good,” he said. “Kamehameha was faster than us.”
Maui High started out physical in the beginning but fatigue came into play and took its toll. With Kamehameha ahead by only one point at halftime, they pulled into the lead with most of their goals in the second half, while the Sabers were held to two in the half.
“Our weakness is that we’re not that fast, and we have a smaller team,” Coach Drake said. “Kamehameha saw that and was smart to take advantage of it.”
Although the team lost, Coach Drake still has a positive outlook going into the tournament next week.
“Our spirits are still high,” he said.
