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Boys’ Soccer: No rest for the winners, nor the weary, in ILH battles
Posted at 10:28 AM
Talkstory Central for the Hawaii high school sports fanatic! By Paul Honda No, wait … that wasn’t Confucius. That was the common thinking of many a head coach in the universe known as Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys’ soccer. For Pac-Five and Kamehameha, getting stronger is not a possibility. It is a necessity. Four days ago, Kamehameha shared the driver’s seat with Iolani. The two powerhouses fought to a 0-0 tie at Iolani’s field, leaving the two teams still unbeaten. Kamehameha, 5-0-2 at the time, was just one win behind the Raiders. By Monday night, however, it was Iolani that had the driver’s seat to itself. Pac-Five’s remarkable 2-1 win over Kamehameha at soggy Kapiolani Park Monday changed the chemistry and tone of the race. Pac-Five is now 6-1-1 (19 points) and has an edge over Kamehameha (5-1-2, 17 points) in what is now a fight to the finish. If Iolani wins out, it’ll be a battle of numbers for Pac-Five and Kamehameha; only two teams from the ILH qualify for the state tournament. For Pac-Five, a state berth would be a sweet gift. Last year’s team finished second (10-1-2), but specific rules pertaining to multi-school teams prohibited the Wolfpack from participating in the state championships. That rule was amended by the state’s administrators over the summer, and now, the ‘Pack has the potential to win more than an ILH crown. Kamehameha, meanwhile, has one of the most athletic, physically intimidating teams in the state. David Gualdarama is one of the most entertaining ballhandlers, as well. Knowing that they play in the league’s most challenging league is of little consolation to the Warriors. The normally gung-ho bunch was unusually contemplative after Monday’s defeat. Will the loss make the Warriors a better team? That remains to be seen. It all makes for one of the most fascinating races of the winter sports season, and the battles resume this afternoon. There’s no rest for the winners, nor the weary. Previous Article: Boys’ Basketball: Mules get chance to prove their might Comments © Copyright 2003 HondaReport.com/Leahi.Net
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