Mililani's night of inspiration was close, but not close enough.

Punahou, without scoring a goal of its own, pulled out a 2-1 victory last night in the final of the JN Automotive/HHSAA Division I Girls Soccer State Championships before 2,232 fans at chilly Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

The match went to penalty kicks, where freshman goalkeeper Anu Kahele-Manners sparkled. She stopped two of Mililani's four penalty kicks, while Punahou made its four, to clinch the win.

The top-seeded Buffanblu captured their 10th state championship, finishing the season 13-1-1.

It was a disciplined approach by the young Buffanblu, who obeyed coach Matt Martinson's unofficial ban on staying out late and eating malasadas at the Punahou Carnival.

“;If we get out of here, we might make it for the last 10 minutes,”; he said.

Second-seeded Mililani finished 17-1 despite a valiant effort. Starting halfback Sasha Moscatello, who suffered a knee injury in the semifinals, didn't play, and forward Mari Miyashiro played most of the match despite a painful knee injury.

The shootout was dramatic, to say the least. Miyashiro nailed the opening kick for Mililani, but Kendra Trifonovitch answered for Punahou.

After a Mililani miss, Punahou went ahead on a kick by Lauren Stollar.

Mililani's Chesea MIyake got a break on her try when the ball caromed off the right post, off the keeper and into net. Punahou's Michaela Tsuha answered with a goal to keep the Buffanblu ahead, and after Mililani missed the next kick, Punahou's Allyson Holtz scored her team's fourth penalty kick.

A miss by Mililani's Kristen Nakagawa ended the match.

“;I can read the kicks,”; Kahele-Manners said. “;I've been working on penalty kicks at the end of every practice with my teammates.”;

With Moscatello sidelined, the Trojans seemed to incur another huge setback when Miyashiro went down just 4 minutes into the contest. Miyashiro reinjured a hyperextended right knee, the one that she hurt in the semifinals.

Still, Mililani's defense was air-tight and the match was scoreless after one half.

Punahou got its first goal on an own goal by Mililani on a corner throw in at the 44-minute mark. The officials recorded it as a goal by Karli Look.

The Trojans battled back and got a goal from Miyake on a rebound—Mililani had three shots in succession—to tie it at 1 at the 62-minute mark.

Miyashiro, back in the match, helped the Trojans keep a lid on the Buffanblu.

Mililani freshman T.J. Reyno got a decent look and delivered a rocket in the box, only to be stopped by Kahele-Manners at the 73rd minute.

The Trojans nearly stole a break early in the first overtime period when Reyno went the length of the field and drilled a 20-yard shot from the right side, only to be stymied again by Kahele-Manners, who made a diving stop.

Mililani had 15 goal kicks to Punahou's nine, but Punahou had the edge in shots on goal, 16-13.

Punahou also had an edge in corner kicks, 11-2.

Kahele-Manners finished with seven saves. Mililani's Rosie Nakata had six.