PUKALANI - Four games into its regular-season schedule, the King Kekaulike High School girls soccer team couldn't be in a better spot.
Na Alii beat Kamehameha Maui 2-0 on Friday night at King Kekaulike Stadium, improving to 4-0-0 in the Maui Interscholastic League.
Mahina Ashdown-Deponte put Na Alii on the scoreboard in the 64th minute, and Nikki Musto added a goal in the 69th.
Article Photos
King Kekaulike High School’s Anna Gragas and Kamehameha Maui’s Brandy Takiguchi battle for a ball during the second half of Na Alii’s 2-0 victory over the Warriors on Friday at King Kekaulike Stadium.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
"We really wanted it and played with a lot of heart," Musto said. "This is our fourth win and we only have one goal scored against us."
Na Alii have outscored their league opponents 13-1. Musto has six goals, and Ashdown-Deponte has four.
"We play like there's two minutes left, at all times," said Ashdown-Deponte. "We trained hard all week for this game and it paid off."
Fact Box
MIL STANDINGS
GIRLS
| Division I | ||||
| W | L | T | Pts | |
| King Kekaulike | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Baldwin | 4 | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Maui High | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| KS Maui | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| Lahainaluna | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Division II | ||||
| W | L | T | Pts | |
| Hana | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Seabury Hall | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| St. Anthony | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Friday’s Results | ||||
| Baldwin 8, Hana 0 | ||||
| King Kekaulike 2, Kamehameha Maui 0 | ||||
| Today’s Games | ||||
| Baldwin at Hana, 10 a.m. | ||||
| Maui High at Seabury Hall, noon | ||||
| St. Anthony vs. Lahainaluna at War Memorial Stadium, 5 p.m. | ||||
| BOYS | ||||
| Division I | ||||
| W | L | T | Pts | |
| Lahainaluna | 4 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| King Kekaulike | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| KS Maui | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Baldwin | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Maui High | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Division II | ||||
| W | L | T | Pts | |
| Hana | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Seabury Hall | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| St. Anthony | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Friday's Results
Baldwin 8, Hana 0
King Kekaulike 2, Kamehameha Maui 1
Today's Games
Baldwin at Hana, noon
Maui High at Seabury Hall, 2 p.m.
St. Anthony vs. Lahainaluna at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Musto assisted on Ashdown-Deponte's goal.
"The Kamehameha girls play an offside trap, so as long as you're onside they're going to be really far up," Ashdown-Deponte said. "Once (Musto) kicks the ball and I make my run, I'll be onside and have an open goal."
King Kekaulike is tied at the top of the MIL Division I standings with Baldwin, although the Bears have played five games. Three of Na Alii's wins are over Division I teams.
"The game plan today was to go out there and put on a good show for the parents and the school," said King Kekaulike coach Gundi Dancil. "They went out there relaxed and for the most part, everybody did well."
Dancil said Na Alii knew the Warriors (3-2-0) were a fast and physical team.
"We wanted to be patient, keep the ball on the ground and work our passing game," he said. "At halftime we said (to the team), 'It looks like you folks came out to play.' We started off a little nervous, but we settled down and told them to bring that into the second half. I think we did."
Warriors coach Steven Mau said his team lacked intensity.
"King Kekaulike was out here and they wanted to play," Mau said. "We were ball watching. That's not our style of play, and I already saw these kids play at a higher level."
Mau said the game was similar to Kamehameha's loss to Maui High, in that the Warriors outshot their opponent each time.
"The bottom line is who scores the most goals, and I don't even care how it's scored," Mau said. "Ugly goal, pretty goal, it's still a goal."
Kamehameha was without five starters due to injuries, including last season's Player of the Year, Lily Higashino, and team captain Kaylee Correa.
"It's part of life," Mau said. "You've got to learn how to lose, and you've got to learn how to bounce back from a loss. It'll all pan out."
* Chris Sugidono is at csugidono@mauinews.com
