Idle Kekaulike benefits from MIL soccer deadlock

By Fred Guzman

While four MIL teams are preparing to open their bids in the state girls soccer tournament on Oahu, the King Kekaulike boys can celebrate an MIL Division-I championship.

Na Alii assured itself of the crown last night after Kamehameha-Maui rallied to a 3-3 tie at Lahainaluna, which squandered a chance to keep its state tournament destiny in its own hands.

Two late goals by Kawena Chang-Yuen, coupled with an opening strike by Alika Ribao, enabled the Warriors to offset a hat trick by Jorge Hernandez, who scored three for a second straight game to increase his season total to 16.

The Lunas and Balwin both play their regular-season finales on Thursday, when Lahainaluna travels to Seabury and Baldwin visits Maui High with both teams tied for second with 21 points.

If the two teams finish tied in points, Baldwin would earn the league’s second berth at states by virtue of a superior record in head-to-head competition. The Bears beat the Lunas 1-0 and later played to a scoreless tie.

In girls’ action today, Kamehameha-Maui tangles with Kaiser and D-II St. Anthony faces Kamehameha-Hawaii in opening round matches.

Baldwin, seeded third in D-I, faces the winner of Iolani versus Kapolei, and Seabury, seeded fourth in D-II, meets the winner of Mid-Pacific versus Kalaheo in Thursday’s quarterfinals.