Hurricanes Aim To Overcome Hard Knocks In February
By Jack Danilewicz
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Four games into the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West soccer season, the Kapolei boys’ team could have easily earned the label as the “hard-luck” group in the conference with three ties and a loss in that span.
As the Hurricanes prepare for next week’s OIA playoffs, they’ve earned a different distinction - that of the team you least want to play in the post-season.
Indeed, four straight wins helped turn Kapolei’s season around, and the Hurricanes entered the regular-season finale with Campbell in position to lock up the No. 2 seed out of the West behind Mililani.
“It was an unusual feeling, especially with the ties,” said Kapolei coach Bryce Kaneshiro, whose team took a 4-1-3 mark into the weekend after beginning 0-1-3. “We couldn’t say that we were doing things right, but we couldn’t say that we weren’t doing things right. Our team chemistry had to be better.
“We’re improving,” he added. “Hopefully the best is yet to come. This is when you want to be playing your best soccer.”
With a relatively small senior class numbers-wise on its current team, Kapolei went with a youth movement early on, often playing six sophomores and a freshman in its starting lineup.
The good news for the Hurricanes is that the under-classmen came through in a big way, according to their coach.
“A lot of the sophomores played really tough during that time, and they pushed the older players to play better,” Kaneshiro said. “That’s why we’re playing better now.”
Among the sophomores who have had stellar seasons is center/halfback Richard Gallarde, who is one of the Hurricanes’ team captains alongside senior outside defender Blake Abes.
“This is the first year we’ve had a sophomore as a captain, but he’s respected by all of our players regardless of his age,” Kaneshiro said of Gallarde. “We were looking for someone (as a captain) who exemplifies what we want on the field. He helps us through the tough spots.
“His strength is that he’s a competitor,” he added. “He gives 100 percent at all times, and he has a real team philosophy. The other players rally around him.”
Abes is one of few seniors in the starting lineup, but has been a steadying presence for the Hurricanes on the defensive side.
“Similar to Richard, he’s a real good role model on and off of the field,” Kaneshiro said of Abes. “He gives 100 percent every game. He has a lot of tenacity and determination to his game.”
Among the Hurricanes’ losses to graduation from last year’s team, which made the OIA championship game, was its sweeper William Wren, whose family relocated to Georgia. Junior Eric Morales has stepped into the position and performed well, according to his coach.
“That was a big loss for us, and we had to find someone (to replace Wren),” Kaneshiro said.“Eric started at mid-field before we moved him, and he’s shined in that (sweeper) position. He has the strongest leg on the team, and he’s a good defender.”
Kaneshiro also is looking for big post-seasons from Nate Swenson, Adrian Yunson and freshman Brandon Begonia.
The month of February has been good to Kapolei in recent years with a number of riveting post-season runs, including in 2007, when the Hurricanes won the OIA championship. Kaneshiro acknowledged that Kapolei will have to find more scoring (“We’ve just been getting by,” he said); play within their own end of the field figures to be a big key.
“Defensively, we have to limit their chances - the fewer opportunities they have, the better,” he said.“We have to be well-conditioned, and we have to communicate well. If all of your players are in tune with your game plan and do their jobs, the team with the best chemistry probably has the best chance of winning it (the OIA Tournament). Basically, we have to play our game.”
The top six finishers at the OIA Tournament receive bids to the JN Automotive Group Division I Boys’ State Soccer Championships, which will run Feb. 10-13 at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.
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