Kamehameha, Iolani in title game
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys soccer title picture cleared up a little yesterday, and it wasn't a pretty one for Punahou.
Kamehameha defeated the host Buffanblu, 2-1, eliminating them from the race and causing Punahou to uncharacteristically miss a third straight state tournament.
Kamehameha and Iolani, both 9-1-2, finished the regular season tied atop the standings with 29 championship points.
They will play each other for the title at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Kap'iolani Park's Field No. 1. The winner receives the league's lone automatic state berth, and the loser will play the Maui Interscholastic League runner-up at 2 p.m. Saturday at a site to be determined for a state berth.
Punahou (8-2-2) finished its season with 26 points.
"It's a pity," Buffanblu coach Bob Clague said. "Three tough schools, three tough teams ... We feel unfortunate, but there's been years where we've been lucky, too. I guess it all evens up."
All of the scoring in yesterday's game came in the first half. Kamehameha's Alika Ah New scored first on a free kick, and the Warriors took a 2-0 lead on Kaui Wong's goal off a deflection.
Punahou had tried to play the ball back to its goalkeeper on the second goal, but the ball came loose in the box and Wong was there to tap it in.
"We shot ourselves in the foot," Clague said.
The Buffanblu struck back, however, scoring in the 33rd minute on Kenan Knieriem's goal off Kevin Lenahan's header.
Punahou applied heavy pressure in the second half and had a couple of scoring chances, but the Warriors held on.
Kamehameha coach Andrew Ah New said he felt fortunate to win, especially without injured starter David Gualdarama.
• Iolani 6, St. Louis 2: Eaton O'Neill scored three goals to lift the Raiders past the Crusaders.
Jonathan Lee scored two goals and Nicholas Ching one for Iolani. Dom Jovanni Cueva and Isaiah Chang each had goals for St. Louis.
• Pac-Five 8, Damien 0: Darin Fajota scored two goals to boost Pac-Five.
Shotaro Kiyohara, Michael Weidman, Mitchell Fu, Jon Taoka, Ken Hong and Chris Wittig also scored.
