Farmers Finish Scoreless

The Molokai High girls’ soccer team failed to find the back of the net in a pair of games this weekend against Maui’s Kamehameha School. Kamehameha improved its record to 2-2 with a 7-0 Friday afternoon and a 5-0 win the following morning. Molokai dropped to 0-4 on the young season.

Kyle Watson led the way for the Warriors, picking up three goals and two assists during the weekend series. In total, 11 different players netted goals for Kamehameha and three other players found their way into the box scores with assists.

“Most of these girls have never played before,” Molokai coach Scott Shelton said. “It’s a lot different than on Maui where they start at six [years old] and play year round.”

Kamehameha’s Jaelyn Takiguchi took less than four minutes to get things started with a goal on Friday afternoon. Thirteen seconds later, her teammate Kadee-Kalia Tamashiro put the Farmers in a quick 2-0 hole. The Warriors were able to pin the ball deep in Molokai’s end for the majority of the first half, keeping the pressure on sophomore goalkeeper Susan Smith.

“Susan is starting to get a lot better. She really has come along the way I hoped she would,” Shelton said.

Smith picked up four saves before junior Kui Lee stepped in for her turn between the pipes. Shelton said he likes to rotate his goalies to make sure his players are prepared to step in at anytime and play where needed.

Kamehameha had five goals before the end of the first half Friday, but the Molokai defense was able to slow them down after that. The Farmers started moving the ball well and came up with a few scoring chances of their own.

Senior Leila Quiniones broke free on the offensive and drew a free kick. That chance led to a corner kick for Molokai, but the girls were unable to convert either into a goal.

“We’re improving every week,” Shelton said. “We’re starting to pass the ball around, the attitude is a lot better, I’m happy with the progress the girls are making.”

Molokai will attempt to snap their three-game scoring draught this weekend when they travel to Maui to take on Lahainaluna. Friday’s game at Lahainaluna kicks off a four-game road trip for the Farmers who will also take on Baldwin on Maui before the end of 2009.