Kamehameha boys hold off Pac-Five, 1-0

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Midfielder David Gualdarama, whom Kamehameha coach Andrew Ah New estimated is involved in about 60 percent of the Warriors' goals, scored the only goal to lift the Warriors past Pac-Five, 1-0. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

The senior center midfielder scored the lone goal to help Kamehameha to a 1-0 win over Pac-Five and take sole possession of second place in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

"He's the quarterback," said Kamehameha coach Andrew Ah New, who estimated that Gualdarama is involved in about 60 percent of the Warriors' goals. "He hits the open man, knows when to hit the long ball, and when to keep it. He rarely gives the ball away."

Gualdarama scored in the ninth minute when a deflection off a Pac-Five defender crossed the middle of the field near the 18-yard box and his right-footed shot swerved out of the reach of Wolfpack goalkeeper Reid Woodward.

"It just came out nice," the two-time Advertiser All-State first teamer said.

"He's got unbelievable foot skills and he really controls the game," Pac-Five coach Nawapan Smith said. "What hurts is that he'll drive the ball one way and switch it quickly another time. We knew what to expect but we didn't know how to contain him."

Kamehameha's defense, however, was able to contain Pac-Five's high-scoring offense. The Warriors, who played with four defenders, including a deep sweeper, gave the Wolfpack problems, preventing them from creating any scoring chances in the first half.

That changed in the second half, when both teams were able to create numerous scoring opportunities, especially in the desperation stages of the second half when both teams started pushing their offenses forward.

"Towards the end, we were just kicking back and forth, both teams really wanted to get goals," Gualdarama said.

One of Pac-Five's best opportunities came with six minutes remaining when senior midfielder Justin Fajota's 40-yard shot sailed just over the cross bar.

But the Warriors' defense, anchored by junior goalkeeper Nick Freitas, preserved the shutout. In fact, Kamehameha's only two goals allowed this season came in a 2-1 loss to Pac-Five last week — their only loss.

"We were ready for them, not like last time," Freitas said.

In other action:

• Mid-Pacific 2, Saint Louis 1. MPI: David Young, Shinji Takahashi. StL: Devan O'Neal.
• Iolani 5, Damien 0. Iol: Chris Faulkner 2, Dylan Langley 1, Ryan Harada 1, Justin You 1.
• Punahou 5, Hawai'i Baptist 1. Pun: Nick Love, Stephen Carlson, Adam Doo, Colin Giles, Aaron Mun. HBA: Cameron Holm.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.