After runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2016, the Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi knew what they needed to do to get over the hump and earn the program its first state title in school history. On Saturday night, they did just that, playing like a team and like they deserved to be there, securing a 3-2 victory over the Kapaʻa Warriors of Kauaʻi to win the HHSAA DII Boys Soccer State Championship.
The game was a back and forth affair, with a tough Kapaʻa team answering the goals scored by seniors David Erskine and Tyler Waltjen until a last-minute penalty kick by junior Jonathan DeMotta put the KS Hawaiʻi Warriors ahead, just before time would expire.
This KS Hawaiʻi team is filled with leadership and character, best demonstrated by the heart and selflessness of senior goalkeeper Jameson Sato. On Friday night, with a trip to the finals on the line, Sato made the decision only a leader could, sitting down when he thought his teammate had a better chance at stopping the opposition.
On Saturday, he frequently and consistently laid it all on the line, sacrifing himself and making hard plays to put his team in a position to win. On one of the final plays of the game, Sato took a hard penalty to stop an attacker, earning a cleat to the face and an exit from the game just before time expired. Itʻs the kind of gritty plays he executed all year and something he admits heʻd gladly do again for his team.
Read recaps of the game:
More photos from the game can be seen in the photo gallery below, on the KS Hawaiʻi Facebook page or on Hawaii Media Source.
The title game win caps a very successful winter season for KS Hawaiʻi Athletics with four team league (BIIF) titles in girls and boys basketball and soccer and two state titles, first in girls basketball and then in boys soccer. KS Hawaiʻi athletes also earned seven individual BIIF championships in wrestling and a top league finish in the girls 200 freestyle relay in swimming,
KS Hawaiʻi won their first boys soccer state title on Saturday with a 3-2 victory over Kapaʻa in the title game.
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