Hurricanes Look For ‘Signature’ Win In Semifinal Game

Wednesday - February 10, 2010
By Jack Danilewicz
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Dennis Fuerst uses his head - so to speak - to defend Kapolei’s goal against the Kaiser Cougars in a Feb. 3 game. Photo by Byron Lee, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Entering the final week of its Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West Conference season, the only thing missing from the Kapolei boys soccer team’s resume was a so-called “signature” win. The Hurricanes changed that with a 2-1 triumph over then-unbeaten Mililani on Jan. 22.

“All of the things that we stress in practice - conditioning, team chemistry, winning the 50-50 balls - came out in that game,” Kapolei coach Bryce Kaneshiro said of the win over the Trojans (who ended up as Red West regular-season champions).

“Whenever you play Mililani, you know you are playing one of the premier teams. They bring out the best in our players, and that game showed us we could compete with anyone when we play as a team and communicate well.”

Upon further review, the Hurricanes were actually missing something else down the stretch: some key performers. Academic issues had sidelined highly regarded juniors Adrian Yunson and Kainoa Ke-a for several games, while sophomore Rowen White was playing some of the best soccer of his young career until a broken collarbone undermined his momentum in late December. All three players were back in the lineup last Wednesday night when Kapolei defeated Kaiser 3-2 in the OIA’s post-season tournament. That win also ensured the Hurricanes one of the league’s six berths for this week’s JN Automotive Division I State Soccer Tournament. Yunson, a forward, had returned in time for the Mililani game and also played in Kapolei’s big win over Pearl City on Jan. 15. Ke-a, a center/mid-fielder, and White, a forward, made their returns in the Kaiser game, which marked the seventh straight win for the Hurricanes, who began the season 0-1-3.


“All three players are impact players who improve our offense, which is where we were struggling before,” said Kaneshiro. “Adrian brings a lot of energy to the team. He can score - he’s a goal-hungry type of player. He causes a lot of panic on the defensive side, which is something we were missing. He’s very versatile. We can play him anywhere. He creates a lot of possibilities.

“Kainoa brings poise and experience - he’s very calm under pressure. He creates a lot of opportunities for himself as well as for others.”

Among the reasons Kapolei entered the OIA’s post-season as one of the hottest teams around has been the steady play of a talented sophomore class that has helped to solidify the lineup. The return of White, also a sophomore, is a big boost, according to Kaneshiro.

“He’s part of that group that has stepped it up,” he said.“He’s really improved his play from last year. He’s usually in the right place at the right time”

Kaneshiro also praised the play of sophomore center/half back Richard Gallarde, who is a team captain, and senior outside defender Blake Abes and goalkeeper Cody Kamei as having been key components of his team’s success.


Among the 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 moved into that slot and didn’t miss a beat, in Kaneshiro’s view, while Nate Swenson and freshman Brandon Begonia also had stellar seasons.

The Hurricanes, who won their first OIA title in 2007, were to meet Aiea in the semifinals of the conference tournament late last Thursday. The state soccer tournament runs Wednesday through Saturday at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park. Pairings for the tournament were to be announced over the weekend.

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