Advertiser Staff
Mililani’s girls soccer team wrapped up its third straight unbeaten regular season last night, and there’s a word of caution for postseason tournament opponents.
Coach James Uson says this team is the best of all.
Mililani buried Waipahu, 11-0, at Waipahu to finish with an 8-0-1 record in the O‘ahu Interscholastic Association’s Western Division.
"Considering every individual on the starting team, this is the best of the four teams I’ve coached," Uson said. "They’re quicker and a lot smarter and more confident. The first team has been through a lot and they’ve got maturity."
Junior Mele French scored four goals last night to win the division and overall O‘ahu scoring title with 29.
Uson stresses, "It’s not just Mele on this team. It’s the team getting her open."
That involves another forward, Jackie Matsuda, and veteran middle halfbacks Jolie Nitta, Ashlee Doi and Jennifer Iha.
The Trojan defense, which allowed one goal in nine division games, is built around Lauren Tanaka, Mallory Iha and Erica Salvador. They don’t let many balls get through to goalkeeper Eryn Kishimoto.
French is a tremendously improved player from last season, when she was only a part-time starter, Uson said. "She played with the Bulls club team and coach Phil Neddo in the summer and came back stronger and much more confident on the ball.
"Just speed got her by before, but now she can handle the ball and finish her run. That made the difference."
Mililani has a 20-1-3 overall record, losing only to defending state champion Baldwin in preseason and playing ties with Kamehameha and Kahuku, the Eastern Division champion.
The Trojans hope to see those teams again in the OIA Tournament starting next Wednesday or the state tournament, Feb. 7-10.
"Our whole focus right now is on postseason," Uson said.
Hilo boys win BIIF soccer title
When Hilo High boys soccer coach Don Memmer talks about "team effort," he’s not tossing out another coaching platitude.
Twenty-three of the 27 players on the Hilo roster have scored goals this season — even all-state goalkeeper Eddie Ruhland.
Hilo clinched its second straight Big Island Interscholastic Federation championship yesterday, outclassing Parker, 6-0, in Waimea. The Vikings are 11-0 with one game left, against third-place Kealekehe Saturday in Kona.
Hilo, which lost only to state champion ‘Iolani in 2000, has won 20 straight BIIF games and has a 15-0 overall record this season.
"We’ve been dominating in the league," said Memmer, whose team has outscored opponents 70-2.
The Vikings’ top players have been center halfback Jeremy VanKralingen, Ruhland — a standout at last year’s state tournament — and sweeper Brian Shinjo, who was second-team all-state in 2000.
VanKralingen, Tim Meek and sophomore Moi Kaneali‘i share the team scoring lead with seven goals each.
"You never know who’s going to step up, but every game somebody carries the load," Memmer said. "They have a great attitude and love to play the game. When they get knocked down, they clap. When other kids get knocked down, they clap."
Hilo’s future seems assured as the junior varsity boys also are unbeaten.
"It’s a pleasure to coach a team with this work ethic," Memmer said. "And I have a great assistant, my wife, Joy, always a positive voice in my ear."
Now if he can just engineer goals for those fullbacks who haven’t scored yet.
Yesterday’s scores
Interscholastic League of Honolulu
Girls Varsity
‘Iolani 1, Pac Five 0. Lauren Dignam.
Kamehameha 1, Maryknoll 0. Krystalynn Ontai.
St. Francis 1, Mid Pacific 0. Sarah Desuacido.
O‘ahu Interscholastic Association
Boys Varsity
Pearl City 11, Waialua 0. Robert Shinn 4, Daniel Park 2, Richard Shinn 2, Brian Kishimoto, Randall Shinn, Daniel Sanchez.
‘Aiea 7, Wai‘anae 0. Benji Villaflor 3, Jarvis Uehara 2, Elliott Hirai, Melvin Jungblut.
Campbell 3, Leilehua 0. Taifei Lee 2, Michael Ryman.
Mililani 13, Waipahu 0. Jarrett Razon 3, Timmy Liu 2, Kevin Higaki, Ryan Kau, Blaine Murakami, Gainor Nitta, Wesley Kim, Kilipaki Kanae, Justin Kim, Own Goal.
Girls Varsity
Pearl City 3, Waialua 0. Christie Ayers, Nicole Johnson, Melanie Laporga.
‘Aiea 5, Wai‘anae 0. Nadine Manangan, Kelsey Greer, Dana Kagawa, Tiffany Tan, Joelle Sugai.
Leilehua 2, Campbell 1. Lei-Karley Peterson 2. Camp-Bree Davis.
Mililani 11, Waipahu 0. Mele French 4, Julie Broussard 3, Jackie Matsuda, Jolie Nitta, Lauren Tanaka, Darci Watanabe.
Girls Junior Varsity
Leilehua 0, Campbell 0.
SOFTBALL
 Moanalua 6, Waipahu 0: Chaz Ebalaroza and Melissa Force combined for a one-hitter as the Menehune won an opening-round game of the O‘ahu Interscholastic Association championship tournament.
Marisa Tamura was 2-for-3 for the Menehune.
Moanalua advances to a quarterfinal today against two-time defending OIA champion Mililani, which has won 37 straight OIA regular-season and tournament games since 1998.
Game time is 3:30 p.m. at Mililani.
WAIPAHU 000 000 0 — 0 1 4
MOANALUA 030 030 X — 6 8 2
WP-Chaz Ebalaroza. Leading hitters: Moan Marisa Tamura 2-3.
Wai‘anae 6, Kaiser 5: The Seariders capitalized on eight Cougar errors, including two in the bottom of the seventh to score the winning run.
With one out, Shaylla Moses reached on an error and Alice Campbell was brought in as a courtesy runner. Asheila Acosta’s fly ball to left was dropped, allowing Campbell to score.
KAISER 110 200 1 — 5 8 8
WAI‘ANAE 200 012 1 — 6 5 1
WP-Jasmine Choy. Leading hitters: Kais-Cassie Chun-Ming 2-3, double. Waian-Shaylla Moses 2-4, double.
Leilehua 4, Kahuku 1: The Mules scored a run in the third and two in the fifth on a hit and an error to defeat the Red Raiders.
KAHUKU 100 000 0 — 1 5 4
LEILEHUA 101 020 X — 4 4 2
WP-Alexis San Nicolas. Leading hitters: Kahu-T. Aalona triple. Lei-Shannon Guerrero triple; Pikake Nutter-Gaudet double.
Castle 5, Campbell 4: Lia Pedrina’s two-out single in the bottom of the seventh drove in the tying and go-ahead runs to rally the Knights.
CAMPBELL 200 020 0 — 4 5 1
CASTLE 000 200 3 — 5 7 2
WP-Lia Pedrina. Leading hitters: Camp-Ashley Streadbeck 2-3. Cast-Cheri Defiesta 2-4; Pedrina 2-3, 2 RBI; Anuhea Young 2-3.
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