[ HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ]
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kailua's Ariel Moniz and Mililani's Raimee Ortega battled for the ball during yesterday's game. The Trojans won 2-0.
Mililani girls win
New coach keeps winning
tradition alive in Mililani
Mililani girls soccer coach Ray Akiona didn't have to wait for last night's boys Oahu Interscholastic Association final with Kailua to feel the pressure that comes with his position.
"There's been pressure since the season started," smiled Akiona, after coaching the Trojans to a workmanlike 2-0 victory over Kailua in the girls OIA title game at breezy Kaiser Stadium. The win gave Mililani its third straight OIA championship, but it was the first for Akiona, who took over for James Uson during the offseason.
"We were just holding tradition here, trying to keep it going," he added. "This is real sweet."
The Trojans, who also earned the OIA's top seed for next week's state tournament, played a stellar game defensively, led by sweeper Erin Kikumoto, who raced sideline to sideline to keep the Surfriders at arm's length most of the night.
"Erin has been our anchor all season," Akiona said. "She's made the difference for us."
A stiff wind was also undeniably a factor. Mililani (11-2-1) had the wind at its back for the first half, during which the Trojans took a 1-0 lead at the nine-minute mark on a goal by Crystal Ah Sam after Kailua failed on a clearing attempt.
"With the wind, I thought that if we cleared the ball a little better over the top, we would have had better chances," said Kailua coach Wil Kimura, whose team was making its first appearance in the OIA title game. "But give them credit. They shut us down. We couldn't get the ball upfield accurately enough to get good shots, and their sweeper (Kikumoto) just killed our attack most of the time. Too often, we couldn't get it past her.
"They're a bit deeper than we are, and they have more skill than we do," he continued. "I knew depth would be a problem. We tried to put a lot of pressure on them. With the wind on this field, I thought if we could get out of the first half at 0-0, we'd be all right, but it didn't work out that way."
Mililani's goal to open the scoring came on what appeared to be a routine clearing attempt by Kailua, but the Surfriders missed the ball altogether, leaving Ah Sam in perfect position. In traffic, she stepped forward, sending the ball just off of the hands of Surfrider goalkeeper Johnalynn Ilae.
"I was trying to get in the way of everybody, and I finally did," Ah Sam said. "She whiffed on it and I got to it. I didn't think it was going to go in, but it did. I knew it was going to be a competitive game, so it was important to get that first goal."
Added Akiona: "That gave us the edge and it gave us momentum. I think we needed that confidence in the beginning. It was a tough game. Both teams played hard. They're an aggressive team, and they play their hearts out. Momentum was a key in this game. And that goal made a big difference. We're fortunate to have depth and talent and we were able to shuffle people in and out at key positions. It also gives you an edge in that you have fresh legs."
Mililani made it 2-0 inside the game's 64th minute when Alexis Choi connected from 20 yards out.
Despite the setback, Kimura remained upbeat. Like the Trojans, Kailua (10-2-2) will also take part in next week's state tournament.
"We gave it our best and that's all that matters," he said. "I'm real proud of them. We did a lot better than anyone expected."
