Defending champion King Kekaulike rolls, faces Mililani next

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser
·2 min read

Feb. 7—Despite not winning its league title, defending state champion King Kekaulike looked like a team capable of repeating in the opening round of the Motiv8 Foundation /HHSAA Boys Soccer State Championships in Division I on Monday.

Despite not winning its league title, defending state champion King Kekaulike looked like a team capable of repeating in the opening round of the Motiv8 Foundation /HHSAA Boys Soccer State Championships in Division I on Monday.

Owen Riecke scored two of Na Alii's three goals in the first 15 minutes to lead King Kekaulike to a 5-1 rout of visiting Aiea.

Lorenzo Gonzalez also scored twice and Kaleo Gallen added the final goal for the Maui Interscholastic League's Na Alii (9-3 ), who will play No. 1 seed Mililani in the quarterfinals on Thursday at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.

King Kekaulike is one of three neighbor-island schools to win the state championship in Division I in the past five tournaments played. Punahou has won the other two.

The OIA hasn't won a state title in boys soccer since Mililani in 2015.

Kelly Takara scored Aiea's lone goal in the fifth minute.

Punahou 2, Kapolei 0 Seniors Delcan Horio and Noa Yoo scored second-half goals to lead the host Buffanblu (7-2-2 ) to a victory over the Hurricanes (10-4 ).

Punahou, which is making an appearance in the Division I state quarterfinals for the 14th consecutive tournament, will play No. 4 seed Hilo on Thursday.

Waiakea 3, Kaiser 2, OT Alon Halsted scored in overtime to lead the host Warriors (12-2 ) to their second victory in the winner's bracket since 1997.

Tevin Atwal scored three minutes into the game and Aziah Nelson tied the game with a goal in the 78th minute for Waiakea, which will play No. 2 seed 'Iolani in Thursday's quarterfinals.

Ailu Doi and Noah Kaneshiro scored eight minutes apart in the second half to give the Cougars (10-3-1 ) a 2-1 lead before Waiakea made its comeback.

Kalani 1, Kailua 0 Chase Kaetsu, the Falcons' leading scorer, broke a scoreless tie with a goal in the 78th minute to lead Kalani (12-1-1 ) over the Surfriders (10-4-1 ) at Farrington.

The OIA runner-up Falcons advance to play No. 4 seed Baldwin in Thursday's quarterfinals.