Warriors to defend state crown after storming past Spartans

Keanu Brown (11) added the second of three Kapaa goals scored within seven minutes in the second half. Spencer Honda | SL

WAIPAHU — Kapaa will have the chance to defend their state crown and go back to back after posting a flurry of second-half scores to storm past Seabury Hall, 3-0, Friday afternoon in The Queen's Medical Center/HHSAA Division II State Championship semifinals at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex Stadium.

After a scoreless first half, the Warriors turned the tide with Kellen O'Rourke scoring in the 59th minute followed shortly after by Keanu Brown (62th minute) and Laa Gonsalves (66th minute) to quickly jump out to a three-goal lead that remained until the final whistle.

A year ago, the Warriors claimed their third koa trophy with a 1-0 win over Saint Louis that also helped break "the curse" of several state runner-up finishes over the past few years in various sports.

The Warriors will take on Hawaii Prep Saturday evening for the Division II state title with first kick set for 5 p.m.

Kapaa's Kellen O'Rourke breaks a scoreless match with a goal in the 60th minute followed by a flurry of scores from Keanu Brown and Laa Gonsalves as the Warriors defeat Seabury Hall, 3-0, to land in the QMC/#HHSAA Division II championship against Hawaii Prep. pic.twitter.com/AkWhaCy3QA
— Spencer Honda (@SpncerHonda) February 15, 2020

For Seabury Hall, it was a tough year competing as the only Division II squad in the Maui Interscholastic League, resulting in a one-win regular season.

But the competition served the Spartans well as they took down Oahu Interscholastic Association champ Aiea, 5-1, in Thursday's quarterfinal round.

Seabury will play Kamehameha-Hawaii in the third place game with a chance for its highest placing in the history of the Division II state tournament — the Spartans finished fourth in 2009 and 2010.