It’s the ultimate in soccer frustration.
You spend an entire game moving through the gauntlet that is a good defense, only to be rebuffed by the biggest, baddest defender in the state.
‘Iolani keeper Josh Adachi wasn’t the most tested keeper this season, but when he was challenged he came through. For that, he was selected the state’s player of the year after consultation with coaches.
The Raiders allowed only one goal in the state tournament and only once gave up two goals in a game. Sure, a lot of that has to do with talent like Timmy Leong, Dustin Wagner and Aaron Yanagi in the back, but they were free to go after every ball knowing they had the best shot-blocker in the game behind them to clean up their miscues.
"He does everything you expect of in a keeper," ‘Iolani coach Chris Lee said. "To have someone back there directing things is so important. Defenders all know that if they get beat, they have him back there."
Adachi’s only real test came in the Raiders’ first game at states, after he had no chance at stopping Ryan Abe of Kalani from 6 yards out. The Raiders’ defense held strong after that, forcing penalty kicks and giving Adachi a chance to exorcize a few demons.
Adachi, who was hobbling on a broken foot, lost in penalty kicks to Kamehameha-Maui in the 2013 tournament, delaying ‘Iolani’s coronation for a year.
He made sure this time was different.
Adachi stepped up and kicked in ‘Iolani’s first penalty attempt and stepped back into the goal and punched one Kalani shot away and watched another sail wide.
"It seems like he is 7 feet tall," Kalani coach Mike Ching said. "On penalty kicks it looks like he gives you 2 feet on either side to work with and that forces misses as well. Not only that, he has the biggest leg possible, punts the ball a mile high and goal kicks go forever. You just know going in you are not going to get any cheap goals."
Adachi will take his talents to Pacific next year.
The ILH reasserted its dominance in the state tournament, with ‘Iolani completing a perfect season, but Maui stepped up and took the OIA’s place as the premier league’s greatest threat with Kamehameha-Maui and Baldwin making the final four before bowing out.
The ILH won the state title for the first time in three years. It had a run of seven straight titles before that. Mid-Pacific made it an ILH sweep with a win over Honokaa for the Division II title.
Brennan Joaquin will return for the Warriors, cracking the state’s elite list as a sophomore. ‘Iolani returns Spencer Ho and Max Ching for its title defense, while Mid-Pacific gets defender Brandon Ho back and Punahou returns forward Alec Dinsmore.
Lee was selected as the coach of the year for guiding his talented bunch through an undefeated season.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Josh Adachi, ‘Iolani
COACH OF THE YEAR
Chris Lee, ‘Iolani
FIRST TEAM
F : Alec Dinsmore, Punahou, jr.
F: Brennan Joaquin, KS-Maui, so.
M: KJ Ahlo, ‘Iolani, sr.
M: Spencer Ho, ‘Iolani, jr.
M: Daniel Quenga, KS-Maui, sr.
M: Taylor Shota Takada, Kaiser, sr.
M: Keoni Yates, Kealakehe, sr.
D: Timmy Leong, ‘Iolani, sr.
D: Brandon Ho, MPI, jr.
D: Aaron Yanagi, ‘Iolani, sr.
K: Josh Adachi, ‘Iolani, sr.
SECOND TEAM
F : Keo Ponce, Kapolei, sr.
F: Antonio Espinoza, Punahou, sr.
M: Steven Yoshimoto, Punahou, jr.
M: Micah Alo, KS-Maui, jr.
M: Max Ching, ‘Iolani, jr.
M: Shandon Hopeau, Kapolei, so.
M: Ryan Bui, Kalani, sr.
D: Treston Ijiri, Moanalua, sr.
D: Avinash Singh, KS-Maui, sr.
D: Casey Nham, Punahou, jr.
K: Mike Austin, Kaiser, sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Forwards
Nakaiya Kerr, Christian Liberty
Louis Moylan, Christian Liberty
Stirling Aponte, Mid-Pacific
Takahiro Kosins, Kalani
Ikaika Urasaki, Castle
Weli Alamillo, KS
Tyler Fitzsimmons, KS
Naia Graham, Kailua
Christian Longnecker, Kaiser
Marcello Dadino, Kapolei
Chris Galang, Mililani
Delmar Stewart, Leilehua
Midfielders
Tony Connors, Honokaa
Tyler Allen, Mid-Pacific
Jonathan Higa, Pac-Five
Jhonah Felipe, Kalaheo
Nicholas Lawrence, Baldwin
Nolan Pena, Roosevelt
Bryson Maximo, Campbell
Matt Foronda, Baldwin
Marc Matas, Mililani
Defenders
Dustin Wagner, ‘Iolani
Toshihiro Kosins, Kalani
Joshua Rosenberg, KS
Tyler Mar, Punahou
Ross Bala, McKinley
Keaka Farleigh, Kalaheo
Clarence Wong, Kapolei
Jeron Cunningham, Mililani
Matthew Cabacungan, Pearl City
Keepers
Michael Stafford, Kalani
Robin Potts, Mililani
Henry Engel, Punahou
