Ayau’s hat trick helps Warriors end MIL championship drought | News, Sports, Jobs
Kamehameha Schools Maui’s Bella Ayau (right) is congratulated by teammate Kea Warner after her first goal in the first half of the Warriors’ 7-0 win over Lahainaluna on Wednesday at Kanaiaupuni Stadium. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos
PUKALANI — Bella Ayau didn’t want to leave any doubt, so she went out and scored a hat trick on Wednesday night to lead the Kamehameha Schools Maui girls soccer team to their first Maui Interscholastic League title in nine years.
Ayau’s three goals led to a 7-0 win over Lahainaluna at Kanaiaupuni Stadium — the Warriors finished their MIL slate 8-1-3 with the victory.
“Definitely, we knew coming into the season that was our main goal, but that wasn’t our only goal,” Ayau said. “We wanted to secure the MIL and also make it to states, but not just compete in states, but, like, be a contender in states.”
Ayau put the Warriors in front 1-0 in the 16th minute — and Ayau hit the right goalpost in the 39th minute — but the rest of the first half was a close battle.
Rylee Rosenthal gave the Warriors some breathing room when she put in a cross that beat the Lahainaluna goalkeeper by sailing in above her head with just moments left in the first half to make it 2-0.
Kamehameha Maui’s Bella Ayau settles a ball during the first half Wednesday.
Less than three minutes into the second half, Ayau scored again — twice in a two-minute span — to make it 4-0 in the 45th minute.
Kaiya Kapaku pushed the lead to 5-0 in the 54th minute on a penalty kick. Maile Kehano made it 6-0 in the 70th minute and Gabby Pinheiro scored the last goal in the final minute.
Ayau believes the Warriors can win the state title.
“Oh yeah, 100 percent, I think we still have more work to put in, but definitely we have the players, we have the team,” Ayau said. “If we just work on it I definitely think we could be a winner at the state tournament.”
The Warriors have been to the state tournament as the MIL runner-up for every season since they last won the title. They do not have to worry about the Monday first-round game this season.
Lahainaluna goalie Makenzie Alexander makes a first-half save between the Warriors’ Lilinoe Kehano and teammate Makena Murphy.
“That’s really big because last year we had to play that game to go to states, but this year it gives us a little extra time to work on the things that we need to work on, perfect the things we need to perfect,” Ayau said. “So, that’s just really good for us and we’re happy we did it.”
Ayau couldn’t quite remember the last time she scored three times.
“It was kid time, so to be able to do it on my last game at Kamehameha, my last game on this field, last game ever, it was cool,” Ayau said.
Kamehameha Maui coach Jayson Nakasone also believes his team has a good shot at a state title. The Warriors wrested the MIL crown away from four-time defending champion King Kekaulike.
“They earned it, yeah, very proud of them, awesome,” Nakasone said. “We can at least have a little more time to get ready, game prep and not have that extra game helps us a lot. We can rest some of our injuries, recover and be ready to go.”
Lahainaluna coach Sky Delaney tipped his cap to the champions.
“I think they definitely earned it this year, their whole system has changed a little bit, they’ve got a whole different group training them this year — I think they have been building up to this point and congratulations to them this year,” Delaney said.
* Robert Collias is at [email protected]
MIL Soccer Standings
GIRLS
DIVISION I
W L T Pts
y-Kamehameha Maui 8 1 3 27
King Kekaulike 6 1 4 22
Baldwin 6 4 1 19
Maui High 4 7 0 12
Lahainaluna 0 11 0 0
DIVISION II
W L T Pts
y-Seabury Hall 4 0 0 12
Molokai 0 4 0 0
y-clinched league championship
Wednesday’s Results
King Kekaulike 4, Maui High 1
Kamehameha Maui 7, Lahainaluna 0
Friday’s Match
Seabury Hall at Molokai, 4 p.m.
Saturday’s Matches
Seabury Hall at Molokai, 10 a.m.
Baldwin at Maui High, 3 p.m.
King Kekaulike at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m.
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- Kamehameha Maui’s Bella Ayau settles a ball during the first half Wednesday.
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- Lahainaluna goalie Makenzie Alexander makes a first-half save between the Warriors’ Lilinoe Kehano and teammate Makena Murphy.
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- Kamehameha Schools Maui’s Bella Ayau (right) is congratulated by teammate Kea Warner after her first goal in the first half of the Warriors’ 7-0 win over Lahainaluna on Wednesday at Kanaiaupuni Stadium. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos
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