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Tuesday, February 1, 2000

State soccer
ruling a double
loss for ILH

Iolani, Punahou girls tie

Star-Bulletin staff

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu, which has dominated Hawaii high school soccer for three decades, went 0-for-2 off the field yesterday.

Yesterday morning, the Punahou boys' soccer team was denied its appeal that would have allowed for a playoff game today against the Maui Interscholastic League runner-up for a playoff berth in next week's state tournament.

Yesterday afternoon, ILH officials were told that its second berth for the girls' tournament in two weeks had also fallen victim to the same rule applied for the boys' tournament. The ILH runner-up, possibly defending state champion Iolani, will not qualify for the tournament. The ILH's second berth becomes a third slot for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation.

The question over the league representation in the girls' tournament was raised following the vote on the boys' tournament yesterday. The ILH has won 20 of 26 boys' state titles and 11 of 17 girls' championships.

"It's an unfortunate situation," said Keith Amemiya, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association executive director. "But the board (HHSAA board of directors) voted to follow the rule adopted last June by the athletic directors. My job is to see that the rule is enforced."

At issue is the formula used by the HHSAA to determine the number of qualifiers from both leagues. Initially it was believed that the ILH and MIL had the same number of boys' teams. However, last week the MIL challenged the legality of Pac-Five, a team comprised of athletes from a number of privates schools too small to field their own teams.

Last June, the state's athletic directors voted to impose a minimum number of players from one school in several sports, including soccer, basketball and baseball. The minimum number for soccer is 11 - the number normally on a side - although the national high school federation rule says the minimum number to play a game is seven.

Amemiya said that a proposal will be made at this June's athletic directors meeting to preset the number of state berths for each 12-team tournament, giving five to the Oahu Interscholastic Association, one to Kauai, and two each to the ILH, MIL and BIIF. Another proposal will be to expand several of the 12-team tournaments, such as soccer, to 16 teams.

Iolani, Punahou girls tie in soccer Star-Bulletin staff With a chance to tie league-leading and idle Kamehameha for first place in Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls' soccer. Iolani managed only a 1-1 tie with Punahou yesterday. The Warriors stand at 8-0-1 with 25 points, while Iolani is 7-1-2 with 23 points. Michelle Quensell scored the lone goal for Punahou, while Gaelan Gray tallied for Iolani. In yesterday's other games, Pac-Five blanked Mid-Pacific, 2-0, on goals by Wendi Young and Karlee Ka'ili'ehu and Malia Kane tallied the only goal in Maryknoll's 1-0 win over St. Francis. Goal scorers--PF: Wendi Young, Karlee Ka'ili'ehu. Mrykl: Malia Kane. Iol: Gaelan Gray. Pun: Michelle Quensell.