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Na Alii girls, Warrior boys earn big wins

By Robert Collias 5 min read

PUKALANI -- Madee Dougherty knew just how important her latest goal was in the early going Saturday night at Kanaiaupuni Stadium.

Dougherty's goal off an assist from Kaelynn Andrade came in the 16th minute and put her King Kekaulike High School girls soccer team on its way to a 2-0 win over Kamehameha Maui in a crucial match in Maui Interscholastic League play on a frigid night in Pukalani.

It was a pretty play that ended with Dougherty putting the ball in the right corner of the net with her left foot from about 15 yards out.

"We were just playing really hard, we came out really strong, we've been training really hard for it," Dougherty said. "We just played as a team and I think anybody could have put it in the back of the net."

The victory lifts Na Alii to 6-0-1 in the MIL standings -- their 19 points are four more than Kamehameha Maui (5-2-0) with three matches to play for both in the MIL season.

Teams get three points for a win, one for a tie and none for a loss. King Kekaulike's only blemish on its slate is a 0-0 tie with Baldwin (6-1-1), which is also at 19 points with one more match played than Na Alii.

Dougherty signed a soccer scholarship agreement with Sacramento State last week, but she has work to do before leaving for college.

"It's a huge relief, but I'm just still working hard for it because I know the competition is going to be even higher, so just continuing to train and doing what I love," Dougherty said.

Dougherty was a key member of the Kekaulike team that reached the 2020 state final that ended with a tough 1-0 loss to Kamehameha Kapalama.

"I think this team has a lot of potential -- we've got a lot of young girls, but they are all full of passion, they're all really willing to work hard and step up to some of the returnees' level," Dougherty said. "We're just all battling and playing together. We have huge potential if we just keep playing together and playing as a team."

King Kekaulike put the girls match away with a goal from Andrade in the 53rd minute.

"First I want to say, Kamehameha gave us a very good game, in fact, a great game," King Kekaulike coach Gundi Dancil said. "That brought our ladies up a notch, I think. They knew they had to play above and beyond to get the win."

Kamehameha Maui coach Jim Kaeo said his team tried whatever it could against the defending MIL champions.

"We tried changes, we were just trying to keep up with the tempo and Na Alii came out ahead," Kaeo said. "They played a great game, really good. After that early goal we made some changes, but we needed at least a tie or a win to get through, so we gambled.

"That's just what you've got to do. You know, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, a loss is a loss. Na Alii deserved that win, they had a good game."

In the crucial boys match that followed, Kamehameha Maui jumped out early and beat King Kekaulike 3-1. Kainoa Carpenter put the Warriors ahead in the third minute with a nifty, unassisted goal after a scramble in the box.

Makaha Pang scored in the 25th minute off a long pass from Trenton Kiesel to make it 2-0. Carpenter drew a penalty in the box in the 39th minute and Kayden Medeiros put home the penalty kick to make it 3-0.

King Kekaulike got a goal in the 52nd minute from Owen Riecke and pressed hard from there, but could not find the back of the net again.

Na Alii and the Warriors tied 1-1 the first time they played.

"That is a big win, we've been training, we started off the season harsh with two ties against the big teams," Carpenter said. "It's just a great feeling to come out here and score three on them and just finish at our home."

The result leaves the Warriors atop the standings at 4-0-2 with 14 points, one point in front of Baldwin (4-0-1). Kekaulike (3-1-1) has work to do in the second round of play.

"We knew we needed it," Kamehameha Maui coach Jayson Nakasone said. "We're always banging with them at the top, especially going to round 2. ... We still got the rest of the round to take care of, so we get back to the grind tomorrow, prepare some more."

Na Alii boys were missing three starters due to COVID protocols, but head coach Aaron Hamamura said his team would "not use that as an excuse."

"I mean, Kamehameha played a great game, they're a great team and we tip our hat to them, it was their night," Hamamura said. "Every game is going to be crucial from this point forward and hopefully we can be at or near the top at the end of the day."

Carpenter said the cross-the-street Upcountry rivalry is always a battle.

"It's an Upcountry thing, it's different," Carpenter said. "It's a rivalry thing I think up here on the mountain. We've just got to see whose mountain it is. This time we met, it was ours."

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

Saturday's other scores

Girls

Baldwin 9, Lahainaluna 0

Maui High 2, Seabury Hall 0

Goal scorers--Baldwin: Chloe Toma 4 (13th minute, Kiliopela Kamakeaina assist; 41st, Kamakeaina; 49th, Bailey Ching; 76th), Maria Kenagy 2 (55th, Shay Okita; 73rd), Riza Santiago (11th), Mia Rivera (26th), Kamakeaina (74th, Toma). Maui High: Goal scorers not reported.

Boys

Baldwin 4, Lahainaluna 0

Seabury Hall 4, Maui High 1

Goal scorers--Baldwin: Kekoa Kiesling 2, Landon Wong, Brayden Barbosa. Seabury Hall, Maui High: Goal scorers not reported.

Starting at /week.