After three years without a state championship, the Punahou boys soccer team had a certain hunger.

Who else, then, was fit to score than Sean Hungerford? The senior forward headed in a ricochet off a corner kick at point-blank range with 2 minutes left in the first half as top-seeded Punahou edged defending champion 'Iolani 1-0 in the final of the JN Automotive/HHSAA Division I State Championships.

Punahou won its 17th state crown and its first under new coach David Trifonovitch—the first 16 were under retired coach Bob Clague. The Buffanblu girls team won the state crown just one week ago, making it a soccer sweep this season for Punahou.

The Buffanblu boys used a steady diet of ball control and quick defense to put a lid on the Raiders and high-scoring Nick Goo. Defenders Jon Cloutier and Cody Sia hindered Goo all night.

“;They're such good friends,”; Trifonovitch said of the three, who play for the Honolulu Bulls club in the offseason. “;The nice part is they can knock each other around and still hang out and be friends.”;

The knocking was rough in the title match between teams that had played twice in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu season. Punahou (11-1-3) won one and tied one against 'Iolani (10-3-2).

Punahou goalkeeper Charlie Yamamoto had five saves, permitting just one goal in three matches.

The Buffanblu were relentless on offense and finished with 21 shots on goal to 'Iolani's seven. Punahou also had a 9-3 edge in corner kicks, one of which worked out well.

“;I think it was Scotty (Granger) who had the corner kick,”; Hungerford said. “;It might've gone off Matt Walker's head, I don't know. But I crashed the back and saw the ball float, and I put it in the top corner.”;

That stunned a boisterous crowd at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

The rest was left to Punahou's smothering defense.

“;Punahou deserves it,”; Goo said. “;They took it right to us. I don't think we came out like we wanted to. They kept possession.”;

Trifonovitch had major concerns about Goo and 'Iolani's offensive explosiveness.

“;Nick and Jordan (Lee) make their attack phenomenal. They can counter attack, get a through ball, anything can happen and it's a different ball game,”; he said.

With Cloutier and Sia playing physical and fast, Goo didn't get many chances until the final 20 minutes, when 'Iolani put three forwards upfield.