[ HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER ]
Aiea knocks off previously
undefeated Kauai
One of two undefeated teams took a tumble yesterday in the first round of the Ohana Hotels & Resorts State Girls Soccer Championships at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.
Aiea eliminated Kauai from title contention with a 2-0 victory, leaving defending champion Punahou (10-0) as the only team without a loss.
After an evenly played first half, the Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion Red Raiders (7-1-1) eventually fell due to two second-half defensive lapses against battle-tested Aiea (13-1).
"It was a very tough game," said Na Alii coach Gordon Matsuoka, whose team plays Big Island champion Hawaii Prep (15-2) in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. today. "We were awfully lucky to win because they had a lot of close misses, that's for sure."
Aiea, which rose to third place at the states a year ago, got inspired performances from two veteran leaders --halfback Jodie Toyama and fullback Tehane Higa.
After a 0-0 halftime tie, Toyama scored the game-winner by knocking in Michelle Shiroma's corner kick four minutes into the second half.
"I came up and tried to head it in," Toyama said. "But my teammate, Jacie Kato, bumped into me. Then I saw the ball hit off one of their defenders and fall to the ground, so I just kicked it in. I just gave it one touch, like a pass, because I didn't want to take a long time and try to hit it hard."
Toyama played a major part in controlling the second-half tempo. She was constantly near the ball and continued to distribute it to the forwards. Higa was instrumental in keeping the Red Raiders out of harm's way.
"Tehane had a great game. She was everywhere today," Toyama said. "We really wanted to get that first goal so we could play our game, slow it down and stay in control."
Kauai's Rachel Taira almost put Aiea in comeback mode early in the game when her shot went through the legs of Na Alii goalie Nicole Takemoto but rolled wide.
In the latter part of the first half, Takemoto made two difficult saves. She batted away sophomore Emmalani Makepa-Foley's high, curving, 25-yard shot and then dove to handle Madison Perry's header off Holly Iloreta's corner kick.
Makepa-Foley nearly headed home what could have been the tying goal for the Red Raiders midway through the second half, but her attempt on a breakaway went wide right.
"Yeah, I was thinking, 'We fully have this (tie game),' " Makepa-Foley said about the rare wide-open opportunity. "We wanted to win this for the seniors, but we have a good team and we have another chance (in the consolation bracket)."
Na Alii put the game virtually out of reach in the 76th minute when Ambree Ako outraced goalkeeper Ashton Pigao to the ball on a breakaway and blasted it into the high right corner for the two-goal lead.
"We had it under control in the first half," Kauai coach Blanche Arakaki said. "We thought our defense was going to hold. It's funny about the missed chances, because this year our whole focus is on being 'scorers' instead of just 'shooters.' "
Kauai takes on King Kekaulike (8-2-5) today in a 1 p.m. consolation game.
Kailua 2, King Kekaulike 1, PK: The game was tied 1-1 through regulation and two overtime periods and the outcome was supposed to be decided by penalty kicks. But in this case, Surfriders goalkeeper Johnalynn Ilae won it with penalty-kick saves.
Ilae made two diving stops on attempts by Na Alii's Melissa Abellanida and Brenda Hinaga. Meanwhile, teammates Marissa Satsuma, Kealoha Kane, Ariel Moniz and Carla Byers scored to give Kailua a 4-2 final edge in penalty kicks for victory.
"I don't really have a secret to it," Ilae said. "My team played so hard and that's all I could do. It's my job to stop those shots. I stayed relaxed and didn't cheat to one side or another. The coaches are always saying not to cheat."
Ashley Constantino and Lynne Guenther scored Na Alii's penalty kicks.
In regulation, Kailua's Kerre Pereza scored in the 22nd minute before King Kekaulike tied it on Abellanida's goal in the 34th minute.
The Surfriders (10-2-2) meet Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Punahou tonight at 7.
Kalaheo 5, Waiakea 1: Tina Garcia scored twice for Kalaheo and Jenna Tomasa, Tiana Akiu and Anela Gonzales each had one goal. Elizabeth Brauner scored the Warriors' lone goal.
The Mustangs (11-4) take on Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Mililani (11-2-1) in the quarterfinals today at 3 p.m.
Waiakea (13-3) plays Hilo (12-4) today at 1 p.m. in the consolation bracket.
Pearl City 4, Hilo 0: Blessing Drumeller scored twice for the Chargers and Lauren Maeshiro and Chelsea Arakawa added one goal each.
Pearl City (10-3-1) faces Maui Interscholastic League champion Baldwin (10-1-3) in the quarterfinals today at 5 p.m.
HHSAA Girls Soccer
At Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park
Seeds: 1. Punahou. 2. Mililani. 3. Baldwin. 4. Hawaii Prep.yesterday
Game 1: Kailua 2, King Kekaulike 1 (4-2 PKs)
2: Aiea 2, Kauai 0
3: Kalaheo 5, Waiakea 1
4: Pearl City 4, Hilo 0today
5: King Kekaulike vs. Kauai, Field 7, 1 p.m.
6: Waiakea vs. Hilo, Field 8, 1 p.m.
7: Hawaii Prep vs. Aiea, Stadium, 1 p.m.
8: Mililani vs. Kalaheo, Stadium, 3 p.m.
9: Baldwin vs. Pearl City, Stadium, 5 p.m.
10: Punahou vs. Kailua, Stadium, 7 p.m.tomorrow
11: Game 7 and 10 losers, Field 7, 4 p.m.
12: Game 8 and 9 losers, Field 8, 4 p.m.
13: Game 8 and 9 winners, Stadium, 6 p.m.
14: Game 7 and 10 winners, Stadium, 8 p.m.Saturday
Consolation final: Game 5 and 6 winners, Field 7, 4 p.m.
Fifth place: Game 11 and 12 winners, Field 8, 4 p.m.
Third place: Game 13 and 14 losers, Stadium, 6 p.m.
Championship: Game 13 and 14 winners, Stadium, 8 p.m.
