Na Alii into state quarterfinals with 4-1 victory over Chargers | News, Sports, Jobs
King Kekaulike High School’s Lorenzo Gonzalez goes on the attack as Pearl City’s Cody Ferreira defends during the second half of Na Alii’s 4-1 victory over the Chargers in a Division I state tournament first-round match Monday afternoon at King Kekaulike Stadium. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos
PUKALANI — For the second week in a row, the Maui Interscholastic League has landed two soccer teams in the state’s final eight at the Division I level.
MIL runner-up King Kekaulike High School rolled past Pearl City 4-1 behind a pair of goals by sophomore Lorenzo Gonzalez on Monday at King Kekaulike Stadium in a first-round match.
Gonzalez scored in the ninth and 38th minutes to put Na Alii ahead 2-0 at halftime. Manoa Joao Monteiro scored for the Chargers in the 54th minute to cut the deficit to 2-1, but Bubba Emmanuel scored a minute later to up Na Alii’s lead to 3-1. Mateus Chauvin scored in the 75th minute to complete the scoring.
“I felt good, our coach was just telling us to shoot, so once I was getting in I was just cutting in and shooting and I was lucky enough to place it in the corner,” Gonzalez said. “And I’m real happy with our performance.”
King Kekaulike (10-2-1) will face second-seeded Mililani on Thursday in the Motiv8 Foundation/HHSAA quarterfinals at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex. Pearl City’s season is over at 9-5-1.
King Kekaulike’s Bubba Emmanuel follows through on a second-half shot on goal Monday.
“Both (goals) were the same, I got the ball on the left side, I just cut in on the right, I went past two guys and I just ripped it,” Gonzalez said. “And it went in the corner. One the keeper almost got, but it went right over him.”
When the score reached 2-0, Gonzalez said, “I was super confident. When it was 2-0, I knew we were going to come out with the dub.”
King Kekaulike co-head coach Aaron Hamamura was happy to move on.
“Pearl City was a really good team, very well coached,” Hamamura said. “We have the utmost respect for that team. Fortunately for us, it was just our day today.”
Also on Thursday, MIL champion Baldwin will face Kalani, a 3-2 winner over Campbell on Monday, in the quarterfinals.
Na Alii’s Mateus Chauvin (from right) is congratulated by teammates Lorenzo Gonzalez and Gabriel Chauvin after scoring a second-half goal.
“The MIL is improving every single year, you can see just the talent going up on every single team,” Hamamura said. “It’s not a pushover league by any means. You can see the MIL team go up (to states) and they make some noise. Sometimes it just takes a little luck and who knows?”
Hamamura smiled when asked about Gonzalez.
“Lorenzo Gonzalez, I mean, he had a phenomenal game,” Hamamura said. “So proud of him on his finishing today. Very good decisions, very good overall team ball from us today. I thought Lorenzo was outstanding, Bubba Emmanuel was outstanding. Goalkeeper Corey Swatek as well as the entire backline was phenomenal tonight.”
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.
• BOYS SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
King Kekaulike goalkeeper Corey Swatek leaps to make a save.
DIVISION I
Monday’s Results • First Round
Kealakehe 3, Kapolei 2
Punahou 6, Kailua 1
King Kekaulike 4, Pearl City 1
King Kekaulike’s Rex Riecke lines up a shot on goal Monday.
Kalani 3, Campbell 2
At Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex
Thursday’s Games • Quarterfinals
No. 4 Baldwin vs. Kalani, 1 p.m.
No. 2 Mililani vs. King Kekaulike, 1 p.m.
No. 1 Iolani vs. Kealakehe, 3 p.m.
No. 3 Waiakea vs. Punahou, 3 p.m.
DIVISION II
At Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex
Thursday’s Games • Quarterfinals
No. 4 Seabury Hall vs. No. 5 Castle, 1 p.m.
No. 3 Island vs. Hawaii Prep, 1 p.m.
No. 1 Kamehameha Hawaii vs. Leilehua, 3 p.m.
No. 2 Pac-Five vs. Waipahu, 3 p.m.
Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Today • HHSAA swimming and diving 8:30 a.m.—State championships, dive finals, at Kihei Aquatic Center. 1 ...
BOWLING ALOHA FRIDAY LEAGUE Feb. 2 Results At Wailuku Lanes Standings—Anela’s 61, Jonathan’s 59.5, ...
Lola Donez scored 19 points in her final game with the Lahainaluna High School girls basketball team as the Lunas ...
Top-seeded Iolani School got a golden goal off the post in the 89th minute on Friday night for a 1-0 overtime win ...
Today • HHSAA swimming and diving 10 a.m.—State championships, dive prelims, at Kihei Aquatic ...
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7rq3UoqWer6NjsLC5jqynqKqkqHytu8Kao2aroKS%2Ftb%2BOa2drbF9lf3C6wGaYpaGZYravwM5mqq2ZpJp6ssHAq6ueqpaeu6K40mauoqyYYoFufYyvoJysn6fGbrvVnqlmm5iWv6ix0axm