Saturday, December 29, 2001
[ PREP SOCCER ]
Moments before last night's boys soccer showdown between Mililani and Pearl City, Vance Harris wasn't sure he would be able to play in the biggest game of the Oahu Interscholastic Association West Division season. Harris’ goal forges tie for
Trojans against ChargersBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comAfter spraining his ankle in warmups, the Mililani senior hobbled through the first half and much of the second before scoring on a 55-yard free kick for the Trojans with about 13 minutes left in the match, which ended in a 1-1 tie.
While Mililani would have preferred a win, the tie keeps the Trojans in command of the OIA West title chase at 6-0-1. Pearl City, which stubbed its toe on Wednesday with a 1-1 tie with Kapolei, now needs help to win the OIA West at 4-0-2.
"We were looking at the tie as almost as good as a win," Mililani coach Jeff Yamamoto said. "At the end we knew we needed to protect the tie."
Pearl City took the lead at the 23-minute mark of the second half when Jaren Oshiro used an assist from Daniel Park to give the Chargers a 1-0 lead.
But Mililani responded four minutes later on Harris' free kick near midfield. His laser shot sailed just over leaping Pearl City goalkeeper Jayson Nakakura.
"I was just trying to get in the mix and hopefully somebody would get it in," Harris said. "But I didn't think it was going in at all."
"That was an awesome shot, I give him all the credit," Pearl City coach Scott Keopuhiwa said. " I told my guys when someone puts it in from that far out, there's nothing you can do about it."
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