GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Skye Shimabukuro, top, of Kauai battled Jennifer Hamilton of St. Anthony for the ball yesterday. Kauai won 6-1.

Kauai stays hot with upset of St. Anthony

The most dangerous team still alive in the quest for the Division II state soccer title might be the only team that has played three days in a row.

Unseeded Kauai got goals from six different players and advanced to the Division II semifinals of the JN Automotive/HHSAA Girls Soccer State Championships with a 6-1 victory over fourth-seeded St. Anthony yesterday at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.

Kauai will look to make it four wins in as many days when it faces top-seeded Roosevelt at 4 p.m.

The Red Raiders have dominated their opposition all week and continued to yesterday with a masterful display of speed and skill. Kauai outshot St. Anthony 26-3 and could have scored more, but three shots bounced off either the crossbar or a goal post.

"We're passing the ball real well and different people are scoring, which is good for us," Kauai coach Matthew Victor said. "This is the best we've played throughout the season."

Sophomore Ashlynn Ubongen got Kauai going by converting a penalty kick just 5 minutes into the game. Seniors Michelle Kato and Jaezelle Balilea followed with goals in a 1-minute span 10 minutes later to give Kauai a 3-0 lead.

"We're really peaking at a good time," Victor said. "If we continue to play like we're playing, we can get a good run (at winning states)."

The Red Raiders had to earn a spot in the tournament by winning a play-in game against Seabury Hall on Tuesday in a battle of second-place teams from the KIF and MIL.

Kauai defeated the Spartans 3-0 and followed it up with a win over Hawaii Prep in the opening round by the same score. They outdid themselves yesterday by putting up twice as many goals against the other MIL representative.

"We wanted to beat that (3-0 score) today," Ubongen said. "We just really want to win and show that we belong here."

Kauai gave St. Anthony goalkeeper Rosie Ruff fits all game long. The talented senior withstood a persistent Kauai attack and made 10 saves while being pressured the full 80 minutes.

Junior Skye Shimabukuro got her second assist to start the second half on a crossing pass that Brandi Gomes put into the net. Shannon Pabo added another goal a minute later and Melissa Iida juked past two defenders before putting a ball in the net in the 65th minute for the game's final score.

St. Anthony senior Whitney Williams scored the Trojans' only goal in the 53rd minute. They will take on Christian Liberty in a consolation game at 4 p.m.