[ HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER ]
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mililani's Danielle Kusaka and Pearl City's Keilyn Tanimoto battled for possession during yesterday's game.
Mililani girls
in OIA final
Mililani's quest for a third straight Oahu Interscholastic Association girls soccer championship continued yesterday with a 2-1 shading of West Division rival Pearl City.
The Trojans (10-2-1) advanced to the league championship game despite being scored on in the first minute of the game at the Aiea High School field. They recovered with two first-half goals of their own and then worked diligently to control the all-out Chargers' offense the rest of the way.
"It was our defense's best game all season," Mililani first-year head coach Ray Akiona said. "We're looking for that opportunity to play for the championship the same day as the (three-time defending state champion Mililani) boys. Pearl City is an excellent, aggressive team that's extremely offensive-minded. On defense, we were first to the ball and everybody played their hearts out."
In Saturday's 6 p.m. title game at Kaiser, Mililani plays Kailua (9-1-2), which upset previously undefeated West champion Aiea 1-0 in the other semifinal last night. Na Alii dropped to 11-1.
"They (the Trojans) had four good shots and two of them went in," Chargers coach Frank Baumholtz III said. "That's the way the game goes. It was a physical game and they beat us physically."
Kari Tanimoto gave Pearl City its early 1-0 lead by scoring on a cross from Carisa Calpo.
But four minutes later, the Trojans got the tying goal as Sarah Yoro knocked home Crystal AhSam's corner kick.
Mililani picked its spots on offense because most of the play was in its own territory. The Chargers kept the pressure on the rest of the half, but didn't have another glaring scoring opportunity until the second half.
In the 39th minute, Alexis Choi sent a 20-yard rocket into the high right corner of the net for what turned out to be the winning goal. Raimee Ortega's short, soft cross enabled Choi to put everything into her shot.
"That was a nice pass and it had nice pace on it," Choi said. "So I was able to kick it in. I think we're going to do fine (in the final and in the states). This is a time when it's all coming together for us. This was definitely our best game of the year."
Mililani goalkeeper Ashley Nakamoto came up with a huge save early in the second half when she punched a hard 30-yard missile by Pearl City's Blessing Drumeller up and over the net. She also made two other diving stops, including one from 10 yards out by Lauren Maeshiro.
Nakamoto, who is 5-foot-1, also got help from the crossbar on Keilyn Tanimoto's long arcing shot midway through the second half.
When the Trojans made their rare deep thrusts, it was due to the successful passing of Yoro, Ortega, Erin Nakasone, and especially Nicole Harris.
"They have some key players like Sarah and Nicole and they really did their jobs," said Baumholtz, whose team will play in the third-place game tomorrow against Aiea at Castle at 5:15 p.m. "We let (Harris) distribute the ball too much."
The Mililani vs. Kailua girls championship game Saturday follows the 4 p.m. Mililani (11-0) vs. Kalaheo (8-3-2) OIA boys title game.
OIA girls playoffs
Kailua 1, Aiea 0Hea Kane's goal proved to be the game-winner as the Surfriders shocked the previously undefeated Na Alii to advance to Saturday's OIA championship game against Mililani.
The loss drops Aiea into the third-place game against Aiea tomorrow.
Kalaheo 1, Kapolei 0
Tonya McBride's goal pushed the Mustangs past the Hurricanes to advance to tomorrow's fifth-place game against Castle, which will be for the OIA's fifth and final slot in the upcoming state tournament.
Castle 4, Kahuku 1
The Knights got goals from Aimee Watanabe, Lindsey Watanabe, Tami Kalaiwaa and Krystal Kekauoha as they overwhelmed the Red Raiders. Tiana Ahue scored for Kahuku.
ILH varsity girls
Punahou 1, Iolani 0Rachael Lau scored the game's lone goal as the Buffanblu finished their ILH season with a perfect 10-0 record, and will be the ILH's lone representative in the state tournament.
Other games
Mid-Pacific 3, St. Francis 1
Kamehameha 2, Pac-Five 0
Goal scorers--MPI: Ashlee Komatsubara, Mariko Strickland, Erika Lum. StF: Jennifer Scelsa. Kam: India Soo 2.
Final Standings
Team W L T Punahou 10 0 0 Kamehameha 7 3 0 Iolani 6 3 1 Pac-Five 3 7 0 Mid-Pacific 2 6 2 Saint Francis 0 9 1 Punahou clinches ILH's lone state tournament berth.
BIIF varsity boys
Waiakea 2, Hilo 0By defeating the Vikings, the Warrios won the tournament championship. They will play regular season champion Kealakehe for the overall BIIF title Saturday at Waiakea at 3 p.m.
BIIF varsity boys
Hawaii Prep 2, Waiakea 1Ka Makani won the tournament championship and advanced to the overall BIIF championship game against Hilo on Saturday at Hawaii Prepatory Academy at 3 p.m.
