Hawaii’s Ezekiel Lau surfed to the Billabong Pro Cascais title in Portugal on Thursday.
In clean 3- to 4-foot surf at Praia do Guincho, Lau defeated Brazil’s Italo Ferreira 12.90 to 12.10 in the final. Earlier, Lau topped Portugal’s Frederico Morais 15.27 to 12.13 in the semifinals.
With the victory in the World Surf League’s qualifying series event, Lau moved up in that series from No. 93 to No. 12, strengthening his chances of requalifying for the WSL’s championship tour.
Right now, Lau is on the outside looking in in both the qualifying series and championship tour. The top 10 from the QS qualify for the CT, along with the top 22 from the CT. Lau is No. 22 on the CT.
Two more championship tour events remain before the world’s best surfers hit Hawaii for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, Nov. 12 to Dec. 20. The next two CT events are the Quiksilver Pro France and the Rip Curl Pro Portugal.
Malach’s goal lifts HPU men’s soccer team
Jacob Malach headed in a corner kick by Christian Porras in the 75th minute as the Hawaii Pacific men’s soccer team defeated Academy of Art 1-0 on Thursday at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.
Daniel Arnoll made just one save for the Sharks (3-4-2, 1-3-1 PacWest).
The Urban Knights fell to 3-5-1, 2-3.
Sharks women defeat Academy of Art
Nina Gonzales scored off an assist from Leonicia Lopez in the 66th minute to lift the Hawaii Pacific women’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Academy of Art on Thursday at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.
Lauren Spencer made four saves for the Sharks (6-3-1, 2-2-1 PacWest).
The Urban Knights dropped to 0-9-1, 0-5.
