HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
Campbell takes White title on penalty kicks
Of all players, a former Roosevelt defender lifted Campbell over the Rough Riders in the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Division girls championship game yesterday.
The Sabers had a hunch it would come down to a shootout, and prevailed 4-2 on shots when Kaitlyn Simmonds -- a transfer from the Rough Riders this season -- nailed the title-clinching ball into the right side of the net for a 1-0 victory.
Neither the Sabers nor Roosevelt managed a goal in regulation or in either of the two 10-minute overtime periods, setting the stage for dramatic penalty kicks.
Preparation paid off for Campbell, which converted all four of its free shots. Rochelle White, Natalie Kinney, Christiana Alcosiba and Simmonds all went to the right, and all found success in order.
"I'm really glad that I came here this year," Simmonds said. "We got a chance to go all the way."
She said she transferred because she wanted to be closer to home.
"I didn't know we'd be such a great team, but we were," she added.
Christy Watanabe and Jenna Uyehara found the net for Roosevelt. But the team's second attempt went off the crossbar and ricocheted down and backward, and the Rough Riders' fourth shot sailed wide left.
Simmonds knew her former team was in a hole, and cooly lobbed her shot in.
"I was very confident (when I went up to kick) because I'd been practicing all week," said the junior. "So when it was my turn it was ready."
Both teams had golden opportunities to score in regulation, but failed to convert.
Kinney broke past the Roosevelt defense and goalie in the 68th minute, but couldn't control the ball and her shot went wide right.
Roosevelt's Ashley Okazaki had a pair of chances in the second half of regulation, and again at the end of the first overtime, but couldn't find the net.
No shots came close in the second overtime.
Campbell coach Michael Whitfield gave his team extra preparation for such a situation throughout the week.
"We've been practicing penalty kicks, corner kicks," Whitfield said. "We knew it'd come down to something like that during the game. It paid off."
Sabers goalkeeper Oli Kila didn't get a deflection on the PKs, but her coach said she had just as much to do with the victory by pressuring the Rough Rider shooters.