HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kapolei's Chelsea Swann and Aiea's Rachel Rodriguez collided while going for the ball last night.
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Aiea ties up Kapolei
Two didn't mean Friday night was twice as nice for the young Na Alii of Aiea.
Aiea got two goals from two sisters to lead by two, only to falter in the second half as Kapolei rallied for a 2-2 tie on a chilly, blustery night at the Hurricanes' field.
For the young Na Alii, who remained stuck at two wins in league play, the long-term picture is looking brighter. Aiea, now 2-6-2 in Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West play, may be the toughest team with a losing record in the state. Its other tie came against unbeaten West leader Mililani.
Jamie Watkins and younger sister Jacqueline did the scoring for Aiea. Kirsten Otsuka and Liana Gualdarama scored goals for Kapolei as the 'Canes avoided a loss.
"It was a push for us to try and win," Gualdarama said. "We didn't underestimate them. It was a good experience for us to be down and come back."
Coach Brian Beck's Kapolei squad (6-2-1) has sole possession of third place in the West. For young, rebuilding Aiea, two ties against two of the better teams in the OIA is a good sign. Six of the seven teams in the West will qualify for the playoffs, which means the regular season is solely for seeding purposes.
Aiea is in fifth place, ahead of Waianae and Radford. A win at Kapolei's home field last night would've helped a bit more. Aiea charged to a 2-0 halftime lead before the home team rallied to tie the game.
"A couple of mistakes cost us goals, but our fight to the end was good," said former UH player Wanette Miyashiro, in her first season as Aiea's head coach. "It's a lesson learned. We can't let down next time like we did. Better it happens now than later."
Kapolei won at Aiea 2-0 a month ago. "We knew Kapolei would be strong. We told them to be ready from the start," Miyashiro said, echoing what she instructed her squad before they tied Mililani.
At the 30-minute mark, Jamie Watkins' penalty kick from the left side screamed into the net from 12 yards out to give Aiea a 1-0 lead. "We practice that every day," she said.
Five minutes later, Michelle Shiroma sent a direct kick from mid-field high and deep, and Jacqueline Watkins scored on a header -- with her back to the goal -- as Aiea took a 2-0 lead.
"I've never scored like that," the sophomore said of the spectacular play. "I knew I had a chance of getting to the ball first."
Kapolei was the aggressor in the second half, but Aiea goalkeeper Ashley Fontanilla was resilient. The 'Canes finally scored on Otsuka's 20-yard bullet off a corner kick at the 54-minute mark.
Ten minutes later, Chyanne Alejado's long free-kick glanced through the outstretched arms of Fontanilla, and Gualdarama was opportunistic.
"She kind of misjudged it and it went over her. I just followed it," the sophomore said.
Her goal tied the game at 2 with plenty of time left, but the 'Canes missed their only two shots on goal in the final 16 minutes.
Jamie Watkins, one of Aiea's few experienced players, is optimistic.
"We're coming together as a team. Everybody's trying hard," she said.