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Na Alii wrap up undefeated season

Jhoel Sarraude of King Kekaulike High School runs past teammate Cole Uyehara after scoring a first-half goal Saturday. -- The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

PUKALANI — The Maui Interscholastic League title was already in hand, but the King Kekaulike High School boys soccer team got to coronate its first championship since 2011 with a win on a blustery, chilly Upcountry night on Saturday.

Na Alii rounded out their MIL slate at 8-0-2 with a 2-1 win over Lahainaluna at King Kekaulike Stadium.

Now, they have the chance to avenge the disappointment of losing a pair of one-goal leads in a loss to Hawaii Prep last season in the state semifinals.

Na Alii owned the MIL championship coming into Saturday’s match based on the head-to-head tiebreaker with Baldwin, but they wanted to leave no question after the Bears won earlier Saturday to match Na Alii with 23 points in the standings.

“Definitely, real proud of these guys, they worked hard and they deserved it,” King Kekaulike coach Barry McKay said. “We looked at the schedule and knew Baldwin was going to probably put one over. We knew we had it already, but we didn’t want to have any questions.”

Lahainaluna’s Kekai Sanchez chests a first-half ball in front of King Kekaulike’s Jhoel Sarraude. -- The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

The championship makes history for the 25-year-old school: For the first time, King Kekaulike has won the boys and girls MIL soccer titles in the same season.

“We practice on the same field, we see each other and they all know everybody in school,” McKay said. “I think success rubs off on each team.”

On senior night, Jhoel Sarraude — one of six seniors — scored on a beautiful bicycle kick in the 22nd minute off an assist from Thor Ventura to give King Kekaulike a 1-0 lead.

Na Alii made it 2-0 on an electric goal in the 56th minute when Sarraude made a run down the right side and crossed the ball to Hunter Devlin, who tapped the ball into the goal on a one-touch volley.

“It feels amazing, undefeated season and everything, it feels great,” Sarraude said. “Second year in a row (undefeated) actually, but we didn’t get the MIL title last year, so it feels great this, especially as a senior. … Definitely, we can win states.”

Na Alii’s Kalani Andaya (right) and the Lunas’ Kai Casco compete for a header. -- The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

King Kekaulike goalkeeper Cody McDonald made a stellar save in the 58th minute, but the Lunas cut the deficit to 2-1 on the ensuing corner kick. Fabian Ramirez scored off of a pretty corner kick from Oliver Fabila.

Lahainaluna coach Sam Aki said Na Alii will be strong at state.

“They are going to represent Maui well, both them and Baldwin,” Aki said. “I think it’s going to be really good.”

Aki said that his team overcame a lot of adversity this season, starting with standout goalkeeper Pablo Rico suffering a knee injury before the Division II state football championship game. Rico missed the entire soccer season and said on Saturday night that he has surgery scheduled for Feb. 11.

“We have a lot of youth coming up,” Aki said. “It was just unfortunate this year. I mean, it was every game we picked up an injury that lasted — guys missed two or three games. So, I mean, four concussions this year, a bad ankle, on top of Pablo’s knee injury. Injuries didn’t help us this year. Glad the way the boys battled this year — it was close games all the way.”

Sarraude settles a first-half ball in front of Lahainaluna's Keanu Ornelas. -- The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

King Kekaulike goes into the state tournament with a team teeming with motivation.

“Definitely, a little sad that this is my last match here,” Sarraude said. “Especially, on this brand-new field, it’s amazing. I love playing on it. I’m going to miss my teammates. Now, we just have to go do it at states.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

_______________

MIL STANDINGS

DIVISION I

W L T Pts

x-King Kekaulike 8 0 2 26

y-Baldwin 7 1 2 23

Kamehameha Maui 5 2 3 18

Lahainaluna 2 5 3 9

Maui High 2 7 1 7

DIVISION II

x-Seabury Hall 0 9 1 1

x-clinched MIL championship;

y-clinched state tournament berth

Saturday’s Results

Baldwin 3, Seabury Hall 0

Kamehameha Maui 2, Maui High 1

King Kekaulike 2, Lahainaluna 1

End of regular season

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