Iolani boys tie for ILH soccer lead
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
With one swift kick of his left leg yesterday, Iolani School senior Duke Hashimoto lofted the Interscholastic League of Honolulu soccer championship up for grabs.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
Hashimoto's unassisted goal in the 70th minute gave the Raiders a pivotal 2-1 victory over previously unbeaten Punahou and propelled Iolani into a first-place tie with Kamehameha. The leaders, both 8-1-1 with 25 championship points, meet at 4:15 p.m. tomorrow at Kap'iolani Park Field No. 2.
Punahou forward Satoshi Mitsuda, right, can't penetrate the defense of Iolani goalie Jason Keanini, left, and Micah Miyaki. Iolani won, 2-1.
Punahou (7-1-2), which has 23 points and plays Damien (0-9-1) tomorrow at adjacent Kap'iolani Park No. 1, will try hard not to peek at the other match.
"More is on the line now," Iolani coach Myles Arakawa said. "This will make the Kamehameha game even tougher."
High school soccer doesn't get much tougher than yesterday's Iolani-Punahou struggle. The Raiders scored first on Eaton O'Neill's header in the 10th minute, but the action really picked up in the second half.
The Buffanblu had 10 shots on goal in the second 40 minutes, the Raiders eight. Iolani goalkeeper Jason Keanini made seven saves in the second half, and Punahou keeper Andrew Strand stopped five shots.
Kenan Knieriem tied it on a short goal in front of a crowded net in the 68th minute, but shortly after Hashimoto broke free in the open field and pushed the ball to the left flank of Punahou's penalty box. He then angled a shot in from about 18 yards.
"I was trying to play the ball through, but then I was able to get past their sweeper," Hashimoto said. "I saw an opening on the right side (of the goal) and put it in."
Arakawa said Hashimoto's goal was symbolic as well as important.
"I think it was a defining moment for him," Arakawa said. "He's always been a good player, but what he's really worked on this year is his leadership. That was a big goal for him, because he seized the moment."
Hashimoto, a first-team 2001 All-State selection who has applied to Stanford, Brown, Penn State and Boston University, said the whole team was preparing for yesterday's moment.
"Last time (a 2-0 loss to Punahou), we had a few good chances but just didn't put it away," Hashimoto said. "Since then, I think our attitude as a team has changed. During practices, there's a different feel; it's more intense."
Even Punahou coach Bob Clague noticed the change.
"I think they came out a little more fired up than we did," Clague said. "But when we play Iolani, it's always a hard game."
• St. Louis 4, Damien 2. SL—Dom Jovanni Cueve 2, Daniel Burris, Troy Tateishi. D—Lokahi Bounds, Tim Picerno.
SOFTBALL
• SACRED HEARTS 4, UNIVERSITY HIGH 2: Amber Juan gave up two late unearned runs in the seventh inning, striking out five and allowing four hits in the win.
University High 000 000 2—2 4 1
Sacred Hearts 200 110 x—4 8 2
WP—Amber Juan (4-hitter, 5 strikeouts, 3 walks). LP—Kehaulani Yamaguchi.
Leading hitters: UHS— Brianna Tsukamoto 2-4; Iwalani Yamaguchi 2-2. SH—Noelle Yempuku 2-2, 2 runs; Nicole Cazinha 2-3, double; Lose Manupuna double.
• • •
• HAWAI'I BAPTIST/ST. ANDREW'S/ ST. FRANCIS 15, LA PIETRA 0: Carolyn Fisher pitched a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts, and batted 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs.
HBA/ST. A/ST. F 216 006—15 19 0
La Pietra 000 000— 0 2 0
WP—Carolyn Fisher (2-hitter, 12 strikeouts, 4 walks). LP—Jessica Miller.
Leading hitters: HBA—Jaime Shibata 3-5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Randi Miura 4-5, double, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Rachel Yoshizu 4-5, double, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Fisher 4-5, home run, 3 RBIs; Cindel Zimmerman 2-5; Becky Midling 2-5, Julie Nakandakare 2-2.
