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A Kahuku football team is making a run through the postseason, but not the one that’s usually discussed.
The Red Raiders boys soccer team continued its surprising run through the postseason by winning its state tournament opener. Nathen Fuluvaka scored the game’s lone goal to help Kahuku beat Baldwin 1-0 in the first round of the Outrigger Resorts/HHSAA Division I State Championships at Kapolei High School.
“We’re just trying to work our hardest and trying to put a statement out there that Kahuku is not just a football team, we’re a soccer team as well,” Fuluvaka said.
The Red Raiders (10-5) will face second-seeded Mililani (12-1) in Saturday’s 4 p.m. quarterfinal at Kapolei. Kahuku last made the Division I tournament in 1997. The Red Raiders made the Division II tournament in 2012, losing to Christian Liberty in the first round and eventually finishing sixth.
“They did a very good job, they’re a good opponent,” said Baldwin coach Kane Palazzotto. “They want to make some noise. It’s not often you hear Kahuku in there.”
Fuluvaka scored in the 29th minute off a corner kick attempt. The ball deflected off a player in the kick and landed in front of Fuluvaka, whose shot from about 10 yards found the back of the net.
“When it got to the corner, I thought it was my opportunity to make a difference for this team,” Fuluvaka said. “I went straight for the ball. I was going to turn around and run back, but Coach said to always finish. I stayed there and watched the ball and put it in there.”
Fuluvaka and goalkeeper Braxton Medeiros anchored a defense that held off the Bears (8-3-1). Medeiros dived to his left to stop a penalty-kick attempt by Derek Hight in the 52nd minute. Micah Ching and Kapono Hoopii both had headers in the final five minutes that just missed for Baldwin.
“They passed around the ball, knocked it around our defenders,” said Medeiros, who finished with 11 saves. “Our defense wasn’t on point. They were doing good, but not like how they usually are.”
For Baldwin, it was a difficult result. All of the Bears’ losses have come on set plays.
“I thought we played very well,” Palazzotto said. “We had 70 percent of the possession, I think we outshot them. We just didn’t put it in.”
As Baldwin pressed forward in the closing minutes, Fuluvaka reminded his teammates of the significance of this season. The time wasn’t right to put a closing statement on the season. At the OIA tournament, the Red Raiders had to win an elimination game in the consolation round to earn a state berth.
“That was kind of tough because they seem to want it really bad,” Fuluvaka said. “They started pressing up a lot. I told our defense we had to want it more because we made it this far and we can’t stop now.”
KAPOLEI 6, HILO 1
Host Kapolei downed a Hilo squad that lost its uniforms and luggage when its van was broken into earlier Friday at Pearlridge. Stolen were players’ personal belongings and some of the white home uniforms that Hilo was supposed to wear.
“It affected the pregame mentally of ‘I don’t have my uniform, Coach,’ ” said Hilo coach George Ichimaru. “They’re more worried about what they don’t have, especially right now after the game, how are they going to change clothes? Some of them don’t have even have clothes or regular shoes to wear.”
After discussion with the HHSAA and referees, Hilo was allowed to play in its visiting blue uniforms that were not stolen. Kapolei, the designated visiting team for the game, wore black tops.
“Overall, I’m happy the referees said, ‘Hey, we can see the difference of color, let’s go with that,’ ” Ichimaru said.
The host Hurricances (9-3-2) scored three goals in the opening 21 minutes. Shandon Hopeau, CJ Harvey, Noah Kolona, Sean Yoshida, Bong Gause and Robert Bootes scored in the win. Kapolei will host top-seeded and defending champion ‘Iolani (9-1-1) on Saturday at 6 p.m.
“We have to be strong in the beginning like today,” Hopeau said of playing ‘Iolani.
Steven Baca scored for Hilo (9-5) in the 65th minute to make it 4-1. Hilo played a man down after the 22nd-minute mark when Rylen Kaniaupio earned his second yellow card.
“They were so hyped, so overwhelmed that they forgot how to play soccer as a team,” Ichimaru said. “Once I told them to control their emotions, analyzed what Kapolei was doing, things got easier. Fortunately we got a goal in the net.”
KALANI 3, MOANALUA 0
The Falcons (12-1-1) kept a clean sheet and received goals from Trevor Kakuda and Takahiro Kosins to take a 2-0 first-half lead.
Kyle Ichiyama added a late goal to secure the three-score margin of victory and drop Na Menehune to 10-5.
Kalani advances to Saturday’s quarterfinal round, where it faces Kamehameha-Maui, the tourney’s No. 4 seed, on the Warriors’ home field at 6 p.m.
PUNAHOU 5, KALAHEO 1
Duncan McKenna netted two early goals as the Buffanblu (9-2-2) built a commanding 4-0 first-half advantage.
Reo Nagai, John Jet Toner and Reece Mitsuyasu also scored to push Punahou past the Mustangs (9-3-2), which received its lone goal courtesy of Gregory Morgan.
The Buffanblu advance to face No. 3 seed Kealakehe at 4 p.m. Saturday at Kamehameha-Maui.