Concern over a lengthy layoff disappeared on the field.
Playing its first game in 13 days, Kalani shut out Moanalua 3-0 in an OIA East boys soccer game on Tuesday afternoon. Kane Enomoto was credited with two goals for the host Falcons (5-0-2), who controlled possession of the ball and dictated the tempo of the game.
“We were off for two weeks, so I was worried, No. 1, about the layoff just because for two weeks you got rust no matter what,” said Kalani coach Michael Ching, whose team last played Dec. 20. “(Moanalua) got to play last week and it looked like they were coming on strong. They beat Castle.”
Enomoto thought his team looked rusty during warm-up. On the field, the Falcons scored early and converted on set plays.
“We’ve been practicing over the break a couple times,” Enomoto said. “We have practice from 9 to 11 and 4 to 6. It’s kind of a lot, but we just practice and everyone tries to focus.”
Brison Kim scored in the second minute, collecting a pass from Noah Camacho and scoring from inside the box. Enomoto was credited with a goal in the 17th minute off a long throw-in by Keoni Ichiyama that glanced off a Moanalua player and into the goal. Enomoto scored in the 60th minute after connecting on Kim’s free-kick attempt.
“We create a lot of set pieces,” Ching said. “It’s just hit and miss for us. Hopefully they’ll see a couple go in and get confidence with it.”
With Kalani in control, Moanalua (4-3-0) struggled to get shots off. Na Menehune played the final five minutes with one fewer player after Zackery Banuilos picked up his second yellow card of the game.
“We decided to play on the ground and then I had to modify because they were playing just long balls,” Moanalua coach Hugo Gutierrez said. “It was hard for us to keep the ball on the ground when they’re pressuring fast and we’re trying to get the ball from them and play it short.”
In Kalani’s two-keeper system, Brandon Kim started in goal in the first half and Sena Morimoto started the second. Kyle Wong, the team’s third goalkeeper, came off the bench for the final five minutes.