[ HIGH SCHOOL WATER POLO ]
Hawaii Prep's Nani Anderson passed over Roosevelt's Christyn Takara during yesterday's game.
Water polo makes
states debut
Before the start of yesterday's Local Motion state tournament, Hawaii's leagues didn't compete against each other. But all that changed with four matches at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatics Complex.
Freshman Kim Kopra scored three late goals -- all on passes from senior Poloma Vidgen -- to push Big Island champion Hawaii Prep past Roosevelt 6-5 in the most competitive match of the inaugural event.
Ka Makani (12-3-1) went up 3-0 early on two goals by Vidgen and one by Kopra, but lost the lead temporarily and had to fight back for the victory.
"We hit a point where we got a bit complacent," Hawaii Prep coach Mark Noetzel said. "We blew the rhythm a little bit."
Actually, Roosevelt scored five straight goals -- including three in a row from Leilani Warren -- for a 5-3 lead early in the final period.
But that's when Ka Makani proved they have what it takes to overcome a big deficit. Two of Kopra's goals in her three-goal spree, including the game winner with 4:12 left, were with defenders surrounding her near the net. The tying goal with 4:51 to go came on a loose ball that grazed the fingertips of Kopra and goalie Annah Blanton, and squirted a foot across the imaginary goal line.
"That's the game. It's all about momentum swings like that," said Roosevelt coach Susan Nishioka, whose Oahu Interscholastic Association runner-up Rough Riders dropped to 10-3. "They got a good one (momentum swing) at the end. We didn't have the right person to match up against (Kopra)."
Blanton made several big saves and got help from the crossbar at least four times. Hawaii Prep goalie Star Simpson also made some tough stops, including one on a shot by Warren from point-blank range late in the second period.
"We didn't have that lasting energy," Warren said. "But we stayed heads-up in the final minute. We just couldn't get that last pass off."
Ka Makani move on to play Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Punahou in the semifinals today at 5:45 p.m.
Roosevelt meets Kalani in the consolation bracket at 3:15. Maria Hall added two goals for the Rough Riders.
At Duke Kahanamoku Aquatics Complex
Roosevelt (10-3) 1 1 2 1 -- 5 Hawaii Prep (12-3-1) 3 0 0 3 -- 6 Goal scorers--Roos: Leilani Warren 3, Maria Hall 2. HPA: Kim Kopra 4, Poloma Vidgen 2.
Goalies--Roos: Annah Blanton. HPA--Star Simpson.Punahou 15, Kalani 0
The eight-time defending ILH champion Buffanblu got three goals each from Kamaile Crowell and Avery Cavanah to defeat the Falcons and advance to today's semifinals."This is fun," Punahou coach Ken Smith said. "That's what everyone is feeling right now -- excited to be part of history and involved in the first state tournament.
Kalani (7-6) 0 0 0 0 -- 0 Punahou (9-0) 8 4 1 2 -- 15 Goal scorers--Pun: Kamaile Crowell 3, Avery Cavanah 3, Kendra Dilcher 2, Kathleen Vinson 2, Kelly Samples 2, Kokee Coscina, Kellen Fletcher, Meleana Carr.
Goalies: Kaln: Kelly Bance. Pun: Spenser Rigg and Jessica Brooks.Kahuku 9, Waiakea 4
Stephanie Emery scored four goals and Keala Whitford added two for the OIA champion Red Raiders, who will play Kamehameha in tonight's 7 p.m. semifinal.
Waiakea (9-5-1) 1 1 0 2 -- 4 Kahuku (13-0) 3 4 1 1 -- 9 Goal scorers--Waiak: Tamarah Binek 2, Shawna Simon, Ashley Asano. Kah: Stephanie Emery 4, Keala Whitford 2, Larissa Luehrs, Alee Thompson, Darcie Kehoe.
Goalies--Waiak: Elizabeth Alonzo. Kah: Sara Mirels, Morgan Wright.Kamehameha 17, Kaiser 6
Lauren-Ann Garrigan scored seven goals for the ILH runner-up Warriors, who took a 6-0 first-period lead and advanced to tonight's semifinals.
Kaiser (8-6) 0 2 2 2 -- 6 Kamehameha (6-3) 6 5 6 0 -- 17 Goal scorers--Kais: Taryn Ino 2, Sesily Criado, Tarah Maruyama, Crystal Miller, Michaelle Fujioka. Kam: Lauren-Ann Garrigan 7, O'Sullivan 4, Hanalei Crowell 2, Sarah Chang, Erica Chan, Tammy Okada, Leohoonani Reyes.
Goalies--Kais: Melina Rossi, Dominique King. Kam: Malia Chung, Haley Rosehill.
