In soccer, fortunes can change in an instant if you're at the right place at the appropriate time. Moanalua senior Alex Colby was at the right place yesterday.

In the 75th minute of a scoreless tie, Colby took a rebound off Pearl City goalkeeper Edward Jones and flicked the ball into the net for a 1-0 win in the Division I opening round of the JN Automotive Group/HHSAA Boys Soccer State Championships at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.

Moanalua withstood a relentless Pearl City attack for most of the game but never lost its composure. In the end, it was Colby's work with fellow midfielder Brett Rex that made the difference.

“;Brett and I put together a nice combo on the left side. I took the ball down the line and beat the defender, and crossed it right to him in the middle as he ran towards goal,”; Colby said. “;He took a shot. It bounced off the keeper and back towards me, and I flicked it off the right foot to the far post and it went in.”;

Coming into the game, Moanalua head coach Spencer Machado's game plan was to control possession, open up the field and attack from the sides. Problem was, Pearl City adopted the same strategy and did it effectively.

Chargers midfielder Gavin Dela Cruz, who has the stocky build of a football fullback, ran the field intercepting passes. Forward Nicolas Kapua helped keep up the pressure along with sophomore midfielder Tyler Matas.

Pearl City appeared to score first in the 46th minute when senior Beau Hirata caught a pass from the middle and kicked it into the net from just past the goal box. But as Pearl City players and fans celebrated, the referee nullified the goal because Hirata was grabbing a defender's jersey in the act of scoring. The call was confirmed by the closest line judge, as well as the Pearl City coach afterward.

“;It was a good call; he did it before he scored,”; Pearl City coach Randy Shinn said. “;Still, we gave it our all and I'm proud of this team.”;

Machado's pregame strategy was challenged by the illness of Kelsey Tsutsui, the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference's leading scorer with 10 regular-season goals, who still managed to play the entire match. Machado noted his star's illness before the game, but noted, “;Keep an eye on Alex Colby.”; Colby was the man of the minute, but the Moanalua defense was the difference.

“;They could have put us away the first half,”; Machado said. “;They dominated possession, shots-on-goal, and I do give them credit. My defense came up big for this game, they stopped everything. Their guys were one-on-one with us and we'd just catch them and chop 'em up. Our defenders have done this a few games; not too many can break away from my fullbacks. Nathan Gima, Ethan Chang, all the rest, they did a great job”;

Moanalua (9-4-3), the OIA Red East champion, advances to today's quarterfinal round against tournament top-seed Punahou, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu winner (8-1-3). Pearl City (6-5-4) moves to the consolation round and will face King Kekaulike from the Maui Interscholastic League.

Kapolei 3, King Kekaulike 2, PK

The Hurricanes and Na Alii battled through two overtimes, but the Oahu school came out on top in penalty kicks, 3-2.

King Kekaulike led for most of the match, striking first in the 37th minute with a goal by Logan Bantilan.

In the second half, Kapolei's Kainoa Ke-a slipped one past the goalkeeper in the 51st minute, only to be answered by another Bantilan goal 2 minutes later.

Nathaniel Swenson tied the match in the 70th minute with a shot past goalkeeper Michael Ribao to send it into overtime.

Neither team scored in extra play and Kapolei escaped with the victory on penalty kicks. The Hurricanes take on Kealakehe in the quarterfinals today at 3 p.m.

Kamehameha 2, Hilo 1

The Warriors slipped past the Vikings to advance to the quarterfinals.

Kamehameha's Ryan Ho scored in the 19th minute, followed by teammate Loren (Kalai) Hanohano in the 51st. Jacob Villez racked up a goal for Hilo in the 49th minute.

The Warriors face second-seeded Mililani today at 5 p.m.

'Iolani 2, Aiea 1

The defending state champion Raiders opened with a victory over Na Alii.

'Iolani's Jason Yuasa and Patrick Shimoko scored in the first half, and Ezra White recorded Aiea's lone goal in the 53rd minute.

The Raiders take on third-seeded Baldwin today at 1 p.m.

All quarterfinals are at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.