Battalion struck early and then held off an Arsenal comeback f0r a 4-2 win to capture the Kapolei Inline Hockey Arenas 12-and-under summer championship Saturday.
Moana Kekuewa broke a scoreless tie 15 minutes in to give Battalion a 1-0 lead, but goaltenders on both sides — Dustin Wilburn for Battalion and Aaron Ing for Arsenal — made numerous spectacular saves to keep the game tight late into the second half.
It wasn’t until 13:30 remained in the game that Battalion’s Elijah Chavez-Connell scored to make it 2-0, but just over two minutes later Jaxon Pang snuck one in to trim Arsenal’s deficit to one.
Battalion’s Moana Kekuewa scored the first goal of the title game.
(Image credit: Elijah Abramo).
In crunch time, Chavez Connell’s goal upped the count to 3-1 before Pang struck again to make it 3-2 with five minutes to go.
Isaac Green pretty much settled the outcome when he scored an empty-netter with the Arsenal goalie pulled for the Battalion with two minutes left.
Other contributors for the Battalion champions were Thomas Spellman, Corbin Carter, Kaimi Khim, Ezekiel Antonio and Kaleo Khim.
Regular-season champion Battalion received a bye into the first round. Earlier Saturday, Arsenal edged past the Commanders 2-1 in a super tight semifinal game to advance.
KIHA youth championships were held in four other divisions Saturday, the culmination of the first season since the COVID-19 shutdown of one year from March 2019 to March 2020.
The fall season starts July 12.
16-And-Under Championship Game
Armor 10, Bullets 4
Ronin Pongklub scored four goals, and Elijah Chavez-Connell added three to push the Armor past the Bullets 10-4 for the 16-and-under title.
Jordan Nahoi-Baricar was also instrumental in the victory with a goal and four assists, as was goaltender Aaron Ing, who kept the potent Bullets offense down. Jaxon Pang (two goals) and CJ Bassingthwaite (assist) also had a hand in the win.
Armor’s Ronin Pongklub scored one of his four goals en route
to the 16-and-under title. (Image credit: Elijah Abramo).
Kawena Lee, Kyler Okamoto, Relin Coller and Ryan Bizily notched the Armor goals.
CJ Bassingthwaite, right, passed to Elijah Chavez-Connell (72) while being defended by Kyler Okamoto in the 16-and-under title game.
(Image credit: Elijah Abramo).
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12-And-Under Championship Game
Bandits 3, Arrows 1
It was quite a day for the Bandits, who had to get past the Colts in a semifinal before the title game.
In the finale, Kyle Bizily scored twice and Eva Tramuto once for a 3-0 lead before Kaleo Khim accounted for the Arrows’ only goal.
Other members of the Bandits’ championship team are Dawnna Spellman, Satori Pongklub, Sarah Cox, Landon MacDonald, Conner Birdsall and goalie Dustin Wilburn.
10-And-Under Championship Game
Armadillos 8, Bobcats 5
Maiya Birdsall scored three goals and Conner Birdsall scored twice for the winning Armadillos.
Zeph Saguibo tallied a hat trick in the Bobcats’ loss.
Other Armadillos championship team members are Anthony Bleinberger, Ryan Braga, Asher Stewart, Jonah Bleinberger, Matt Oliva, Evan Clancy and Ethan Clancy.
8-And-Under Championship Game
Alligators 8, Beavers 2
Evan Clancy scored three goals in the big victory for the Alligators. Reese Furukawa, Gabe Vargas, Ava Furukawa and Hayden Shady added one goal each.
Other contributors for the Alligators were Breana Gibson, Dylan Skelton, Caden Durand, Meek Lin, Gannon Barber, Kingston Saguibo, Zeph Saguibo and Ezra Chhoun.
Mackenzie Scott and Evan Armendariz had the Beavers goals.
Videos:
The following videos are moments from the 14-and-under final, the 14-and-under semifinal and the 16-and-under final.
