Posted on: Monday, July 9, 2001

Soccer
West O'ahu captures second title

By Seabrook Mow
Special to The Advertiser

Ryan Miles' quick feet gave West O'ahu its second tournament title of the year yesterday.

Miles, of Kapolei, scored two goals as West O'ahu beat Pearl City 3-1 to capture the boys 19-and-younger title at the 21st Annual AYSO Rainbow Hawai'i Soccer Tournament at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.

"This (win) is sweet, as this is our second tournament title," said West O'ahu head coach Ernest Eberhart, who also won the HYSA Cup earlier this year.

"I just can't explain; just pleasure to the fullest," Miles said.

Miles, 19, scored his second goal late in the second half with West O'ahu nursing a 2-1 lead.

With Pearl City playing aggressive in hopes of tying the game, Miles took advantage as he chest trapped a ball kicked by Pearl City goalie Matthew Igami. Miles then took it up field, beat two defenders and scored from outside the penalty box.

"I knew it was in there, I wasn't going to miss. The goalie gave me too much room; he just stood there," Miles said.

"The game was so close, it could've still gone either way. But it was that shot (Miles' second goal) that shut the coffin door," Eberhart said.

West O'ahu's second goal came on a disputed penalty kick.

Robert Camerrer, 18, took the kick for West O'ahu and easily grounded a shot into the left side that surprised everyone, especially Igami.

However, Pearl City quickly protested to referee Henry Lee.

Pearl City argued that Igami responded he was not ready, when asked by Lee. Lee did not hear Igami and blew the whistle allowing Camerrer to attempt his shot. Finally, Lee consulted with a line official who said he heard Igami say he was not ready.

To end the dispute quickly, Lee forced Camerrer to retake his penalty kick, which ended with the same result.

"The outcome (from the penalty kick) didn't change anything," Lee said. "They all played a good game and a championship game is always intense."

During the first half, Pearl City went on the offensive, trying to outshoot West O'ahu.

"Pearl City has shooters, and cannons; they came out with fully loaded guns," Eberhart said. "We had to play them our best."

Pearl City's attacking paid off as Brian Kishimoto scored to tie the game at 1-1, going into intermission.

Miles scored his first goal in the first 10 minutes of the first half, by sneaking a shot under the diving outstretched arms of Igami.

Despite the records of the teams involved, the format for the tournament is to allow diversified competition between local and Mainland teams.

There were 124 teams and 1,700 players involved in this year's tournament.

"It's also a cultural exchange," tournament director Max Sword said.

"It's soccer forever," Pearl City head coach Anthony Makue said. "You can be big, fat, skinny, small, blue, black, white, green, whatever: Everyone can play soccer."