FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Kim Ito of Moanalua controlled the ball in front of Baldwin's Lauren Amano and Heidi Namauu yesterday.

Moniz puts Moanalua
over Baldwin

For the Moanalua Menehunes, it's all about the final product.

The Menehunes got a goal from Alyssa Moniz at the 45-minute mark and held on to upset third-seeded Baldwin 1-0 yesterday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the HHSAA/Meadow Gold Girls Soccer State Championship at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.

Moanalua will play Aiea today at 6 p.m. in the semifinals. Just getting this far has been quite a ride for the Menehunes (9-2-4), who finished fourth in the Oahu Interscholastic Association.

"This team is so hungry and easy to coach. I thought we'd make it to the semifinals, but it was tougher than I expected," Moanalua coach Nikki Dela Pena said. "The neighbor-island teams have been tough. They represent their islands well."

Moanalua downed Kealakehe in overtime, 3-2, in Wednesday's opening round. The Menehunes continue to win with strong second-half performances.

"Always, in the first half, the other team dominates," junior fullback Mari Nagamine said. "We picked it up in the second half. Baldwin was tough."

The Bears (9-2) dominated the first half with 12 shots, including six on goal. Moanalua had just three shots by halftime.

Baldwin's best scoring opportunity came at the 23-minute mark, when midfielder Maris Van Der Lee's lefty kick caromed off the right post from 10 yards out.

Moniz, a 5-foot-4 freshman, headed the ball in off a direct kick from 45 yards out by Ayasha Abut. The ball bounced to the right and was untouched as it hit the net.

Moanalua goalkeeper Amanda Fukushima was very busy, amassing five saves by intermission. After the break, however, she didn't have another save as Moanalua's defense did plenty of the work.

Baldwin had just two shots in the second half. In all, the Bears still doubled Moanalua's shot count, 14-7, but it was a tale of two halves.

"We played great in the first half, but we didn't have a strong second half," Baldwin coach Kawika Keator said. "Moanalua just won the ball in the second half."

Maui Interscholastic League champion Baldwin plays Konawaena today on Field No. 8 beginning at 4 p.m.

HHSAA girls soccer

At Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park
Seeds: 1. Punahou. 2. Aiea. 3. Baldwin. 4. Hilo.

Wednesday
Game 1: Pearl City 6, Kapaa 2
Ê2: Mililani 2, King Kekaulike 0
Ê3: Konawaena 2, Kailua 1, PK
Ê4: Moanalua 3, Kealakehe 2, OT

Yesterday
Ê5: King Kekaulike 1, Kapaa 0
Ê6: Kealakehe 2, Kailua 1
Ê7: Moanalua 1, Baldwin 0
Ê8: Aiea 3, Konawaena 0
Ê9: Mililani 3, Hilo 0
10: Punahou 2, Pearl City 0

Today
11: Hilo vs. Pearl City, 4 p.m.
12: Baldwin vs. Konawaena, 4 p.m.
13: Aiea vs. Moanalua, 6 p.m.
14: Mililani vs. Punahou, 8 p.m.

Tomorrow
15: King Kekaulike vs. Kealakehe, 4 p.m.
16: Winners of Games 11 & 12, 4 p.m.
17: Losers of Games 13 & 14, 6 p.m.
18: Winners of Games 13 & 14, 8 p.m.