More often than not, the player of the year in Hawaii high school sports comes from the state championship team.
Not so for boys soccer this season. Two players — Kalani senior goalkeeper Michael Stafford and Mililani senior defender Jeron Cunningham — were in a virtual dead heat during player of the year polling.
And it was Stafford, from state runner-up Kalani, who barely nudged past Cunningham, the leader of the state champion Trojans’ defense. Both, however, easily made it on to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s All-State first team.
The All-State selections were made after consultation with coaches from around the state.
Stafford did his best stonewall imitation for most of the season in back of a great Falcons defense, and he did it with a high-flying style. It was not uncommon to see Stafford parallel to the ground, diving with outstretched arms to corral a hard shot by opponents. He heated up in the postseason, stopping three shots in PKs in the state semifinals vs. ‘Iolani to advance to the final.
Against Mililani, Stafford finally met his match, but it took a meeting of the minds among Trojans coaches to try to figure out how to score on him.
Steve McGehee, the longtime Mililani assistant in his first season at the Trojans helm, gathered his assistants the night before the final and they brainstormed on ways to beat Stafford. It was decided that just pelting shots wouldn’t work.
"Shooting it right at him, he’s just too tough," said McGehee, who is this season’s coach of the year, after the Trojans defeated the Falcons 1-0 for the state championship. "You’re not going to score that way."
Instead, the Trojans were instructed to use crosses in most situations, getting Stafford to move and possibly creating an opening. It worked. Jarad Choquette, who was chosen to the All-State second team, slid to knock home a cross from Isaiah Manding for the game-winner.
"They game-planned on how to beat Michael and I think that is pretty rare where you game-plan for the goalie," Kalani coach Michael Ching said.
Falcons junior Toshihiro Kosins, valued by Ching for his ability to play anywhere on the back line as well as add to the offense when he’s on the outside, also made the first team.
Cunningham, who was called on by the Trojans to move up from his center back position to be part of most set pieces in the offensive end, was one of two Mililani players chosen. Senior Marc Matas, a midfielder with uncanny creative offensive instincts, is also part of the first team.
‘Iolani placed just one player on the first team — superb ball-handling senior midfielder Spencer Ho.
Division II state champ Mid-Pacific is well represented with two players on the first eleven. Senior Brandon Ho, a big-time fullback, is a repeat selection, and Tyler Allen, a junior striker with 11 goals, were part of an Owls team that competed toe-to-toe with the best D-I teams in the demanding ILH.
State D-I semifinalist Punahou also placed two on the first team — attacking junior midfielder Christopher Brubaker and dangerous senior striker Jet Toner, who had a hat trick in a state quarterfinal win over Kealakehe.
Two prolific goal scorers — Kapolei junior midfielder Shandon Hopeau and Kailua senior striker Nai‘a Graham — easily made it onto the first team. Hopeau, the OIA West Player of the Year, scored 20 goals and added 13 assists. Graham, despite playing in D-II, proved hard to stop against OIA D-I powers. He finished with 28 goals.
FIRST TEAM
Goalkeeper
Michael Stafford, Kalani, Sr..
Defenders
Jeron Cunningham, Mililani, Sr.
Brandon Ho, Mid-Pacific, Sr.
Toshihiro Kosins, Kalani, Jr.
Midfielders
Shandon Hopeau, Kapolei, Jr.
Spencer Ho, ‘Iolani, Sr.
Marc Matas, Mililani, Sr.
Christopher Brubaker, Pun., Jr.
Strikers
Nai‘a Graham, Kailua, Sr.
Tyler Allen, Mid-Pacific, Jr.
Jet Toner, Punahou, Jr.
SECOND TEAM
Goalkeeper
Connor Goo, Punahou, Sr.
Defenders
Garrison Nakamura, Kalani, Sr.
Lyric DeLeon, Kapolei, Jr.
Cole Tuisamatatele, ‘Iolani, Sr.
Midfielders
Tyler Morton, Moanalua, Sr.
CJ Harvey, Kapolei, Sr.
Jarad Choquette, Mililani, Sr.
Steven Yoshimoto, Punahou, Sr.
Strikers
Brennan Joaquin, KS-Maui, Jr.
Kalahikola Judd, Mililani, Sr.
Takahiro Kosins, Kalani, Jr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Goalkeepers
Jack Bell, Kalaheo;
Makana Breault, Kapolei;
Ikaia Chu, Kamehameha;
Danny Leong, ‘Iolani;
Trent Wise, Hawaii Prep.
Defenders
Ronnie Bartenstein, ‘Iolani;
Matthew Cabacungan, Pearl City;
Trey Curet, ‘Iolani;
Kevin Costa, Kalani;
Jamin Fonseca, Mililani;
Bennett Ho, Punahou;
Mark Kelley, Punahou;
Isaiah Kuloloia, Mililani;
Ripley Quebral, Kailua;
Chase Nakagawa, Kamehameha-Maui;
Noah Rosenberg, Kamehameha.
Midfielders
Micah Alo, KS-Maui;
Jaren Ariyoshi, Baldwin;
Payton Boyd, Mid-Pacific;
Max Ching, ‘Iolani;
Jhonah Felipe, Kalaheo;
Jonathan Higa, Pac-Five;
Colin Kubota, Kailua;
Davin Garma, Kamehameha;
Treyton Kong, Mililani;
Lane McLellan, Kalani;
Dominik Pajimola, Kamehameha-Hawaii;
Mikel Sodini, Kahuku;
Marc Teshima, Kalani;
Kohei Tomita, Mid-Pacific;
Ryan Yoshida, ‘Iolani.
Strikers
Stirling Aponte, Mid-Pacific;
Gabriel Pinheiro-Alves, Kahuku;
Sergei Scharer, Saint Louis.
ENLARGE CHART
