[ HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER ]
Mililani’s Nakamoto
gets it done on both
sides of the ballThe goalkeeper scores and makes
two saves during a shootout
Goalkeepers make saves and don't score. That's unless your name is Ashley Nakamoto and you play for the Mililani girls soccer team.
The 5-foot-2 Nakamoto was the deciding factor last night for the Trojans, who rallied to defeat Pearl City 2-1 in an Ohana Hotels and Resorts State Girls Soccer Championship semifinal that went through two overtimes and penalty kicks.
In an unusual move, Mililani coach Ray Akiona put Nakamoto on the line for the first penalty kick and she scored to give her team a quick lead. Nakamoto then made two sprawling saves of Pearl City's Candace Awana and Jasmine Pratt to help seal the 3-1 shootout victory in front of 1,094 fans at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park stadium field.
The win lifted the Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Trojans (13-2-1) into today's 8 p.m. final against Interscholastic League of Honolulu and defending state champion Punahou, which beat Aiea 3-0 in last night's late semifinal.
"Ashley has a strong mental attitude, and that's one reason why I put her in there to shoot," Akiona said. "I knew it would give us a psychological advantage if she scored."
Nakamoto was primed for her big moment -- on the defensive side.
"I struggle every time on penalty kicks in practice," she said. "I hardly block any and it's something that's very hard to do. I was just trying to relax and be ready, though. Making two saves in a row really lifted me up.
"I'm so proud of the team. We're really pulling it together and it just shows how much heart we have to come back like we did."
The Chargers (11-4-1) consistently beat Mililani to the ball in the first half and took a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute. A throw-in deep in Trojans territory went off a Mililani defender and hit the left post before Chimene Sienkiewicz slammed the rebound under the crossbar from 8 yards out and into the back of the net.
"We were so close (to winning). I thought we had it," said Pearl City senior halfback Kari Tanimoto, who was responsible -- along with Lauren Maeshiro and Carisa Calpo -- for setting up many of her team's attacks. "Everyone tried their best and played so strong and that's all you can ask. I can't believe it ended in PKs."
Jamie Ann Ching's rebound of an Alexis Choi shot early in the second half appeared to give Mililani a 1-all tie, but the referee ruled goalkeeper Amber Horn had possession of the ball.
Pearl City was unable to continue with the same kind of heavy offensive pressure in the final 40 minutes of regulation, while the Trojans began to claw back. In the 58th minute, Pearl City was called for a charge in the box and Nicole Harris found the upper left corner for the tying goal on the ensuing penalty kick.
"Every championship goes through Mililani or Aiea," Pearl City coach Frank Baumholtz III said. "So I'm not really disappointed. We have only four seniors, who all played fabulously, so our future is bright."
Mililani had two golden chances in overtime. Horn ran to her right to stop Alexis Choi's 20-yard blast and then Sarah Yoro's 8-yarder from the left wing went high.
"This was the greatest game of the last few years," Baumholtz said. "It was up and down, up and down."
Both teams took four shots in the shootout. Harris and Alysen Ono also scored for Mililani on penalty kicks, while Kellie Sakanoi scored the Chargers' only penalty-kick goal.
Pearl City plays Aiea in the third-place game at 6 p.m. today.
The Mililani vs. Punahou final is a rematch of last year's final, which was won by the Buffanblu 1-0.
Punahou 3, Aiea 0: The Buffanblu (12-0) advanced to the final to defend their title by rolling over Na Alii (14-2).
Allison Tsuchida's high 20-yarder gave Punahou a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute. Kelly Kalapa and Chelsea Deptula added second-half goals for the Buffanblu.
Kalapa's goal came after a quick pass from Elizabeth Carlson.
Punahou is going for its seventh state championship since the event began in 1982.
If Aiea can get by OIA West rival Pearl City today, it will finish in third place at the states for the second straight year.
Baldwin 3, Kalaheo 0: Maris Van Der Lee, Kehani Suzuki and Kami Kapaku scored for the Maui Interscholastic League champion Bears, who improved to 11-2-3 and advanced to the fifth-place game against Kailua today at 4 p.m.
The Mustangs ended their season at 11-6.
Kailua 2, Hawaii Prep 1, PK: Five Surfriders -- Marissa Satsuma, Kerre Pereza, Kealoha Kane, Ariel Moniz and Carla Byers -- scored in the shootout after regulation and two overtimes ended in a 1-all tie.
Leslie Benigno, Kailua Hurwitz and Marissa Faye all scored for Ka Makani in the shootout. But the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champions missed one shot and came up short, 5-3, before their final shooter had a chance to shoot.
After a 0-0 halftime tie, Hawaii Prep's Rebekah Chmura scored in the 53rd minute before Kailua's Tara Imamura tied it in the 66th minute.
The Surfriders improved to 11-3-2. Ka Makani dropped to a season-ending 15-4.
HHSAA Girls Soccer
At Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park
Seeds: 1. Punahou. 2. Mililani. 3. Baldwin. 4. Hawaii Prep.Wednesday
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 0thursday
5: Kauai 3, King Kekaulike 0
6: Waiakea 2, Hilo 1
7: Aiea 2, Hawaii Prep 1
8: Mililani 4, Kalaheo 0
9: Pearl City 4, Baldwin 1
10: Punahou 3, Kailua 0yesterday
11: Kailua 2, Hawaii Prep1 (5-3 PKs)
12: Baldwin 3, Kalaheo 0
13: Mililani 2, Pearl City 1 (3-1 PKs)
14: Punahou 3, Aiea 0TODAY
Consolation final: Kauai vs. Waiakea, Field 7, 4 p.m.
Fifth place: Kailua vs. Baldwin, Field 8, 4 p.m.
Third place: Pearl City vs. Aiea, Stadium, 6 p.m.
Championship: Mililani vs. Punahou, Stadium, 8 p.m.
