Punahou girls closing on ILH title
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
As with the wild and wacky Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys soccer race, the ILH girls season will enter its final day with three teams tied for first place.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
Unlike the boys, however, one team clearly is in the driver's seat to win the title outright.
Punahou's Adria Campbell kicks while being defended by Iolani's Heather Motonaga. The score was 1-1.
Punahou tied Iolani, 1-1, yesterday at Kap'iolani Park to forge a three-way tie between those two schools and Kamehameha atop the standings. All three have 22 championship points.
But Iolani and Kamehameha, both 7-2-1, have completed their schedules. Punahou (7-1-1) has one game remaining, against Pac-Five (3-4-2) at 4:15 p.m. today, and if the Buffanblu win or tie the finale at Kap'iolani Park, they will be the undisputed champion.
"We wanted to take care of it today," Punahou coach Jorge Barbosa said, "but I guess we have to wait."
Iolani caused the delay by scrambling for the tie after being put on the defensive for the first 60 minutes. The Buffanblu outshot the Raiders 8-1 in the first half, but none of the shots went in. Punahou finally scored on senior forward Charlene Lui's short shot off Ashley Collins' assist in the 54th minute.
Iolani answered six minutes later when Lauran Dignam scored from about 18 yards out after an assist from Lori Sakai.
The rest of the second half was almost a reversal from the first 60 minutes, with the Raiders applying most of the offensive pressure. Iolani outshot the Buffanblu 8-3 in the second half. But Punahou, thanks to some misfires and the play of goalkeeper Allison Lipsher (seven saves), was able to preserve the tie.
"Iolani came out to play and they gave us a hard time," Barbosa said. "I thought they deserved the tie, or maybe even the win. It could have gone either way."
It was a big difference from the teams' first meeting a month ago, when Punahou dominated and won, 3-1.
"Like night and day," Raiders coach Sandy Shimogaki said. "We just came out stronger and physically ready. It was do-or-die."
Now, it's wait and see.
"We're just hoping Pac-Five wins," Shimogaki said.
