Mililani hoping to three-peat

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Midfielder Justin Kim helped Mililani to an 11-0-1 record and the top seed in the Meadow Gold Boys State Championship to be held this week at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Park. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Iolani threatens to score against Punahou goalie David Semenza in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu game Feb. 10. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Punahou, which has won twice as many state titles (14) as any other school, is back in the field and hungry after a rare three-year hiatus. The other three semifinalists from last year, Baldwin, Hilo and Kamehameha are back in the hunt as well.

The 12-team tournament, which starts tomorrow, also has its usual mix of dark horses, led by O'ahu Interscholastic Association runner-up Pearl City.

And then there are the wide fields at Waip'io, which are in sharp contrast to the narrow track at Maui's War Memorial Stadium, site of last year's tournament.

"They're 65 yards wide, which is about 10 yards wider than what we're used to," Mililani coach Jeff Yamamoto said. "The teams that possess the ball will benefit more, because there is more space. For a team that likes to just run up and down, they can play on a narrow field and it doesn't matter, but (a wide field) does not help them as much.

"And the surface at Waip'io is exceptional. That will help a team that likes to possess, too."

That is good news for Yamamoto's Trojans, who are seeded No. 1 and have as many skilled players as anybody.

Mililani (11-0-1) has not lost a regular or postseason game since the 2000-2001 season, when it eventually captured its first state crown.

The Trojans' only blemish this season was a 0-0 tie with 'Aiea on Jan. 7. In their other 11 games, they have outscored opponents 58-1.

Forward Nathan Amous is very dangerous near the penalty box, where he can turn quickly and make an assist or shoot. Whitney Shimatsu also is a threat to score, especially on set plays. Midfielder Justin Kim usually initiates those plays on free kicks, corners or throw-ins, and he also plays strong midfield defense.

Shimatsu scored the winning goal in last year's state championship game off a corner kick.

A primary reason Mililani has allowed only one goal is keeper Darren Smith, a 6-foot-4 junior who is quick for his size and has good hands.

Punahou, which won the 1999 state championship, is the No. 2 seed. The Buffanblu (12-0-2) are similar to Mililani as far as overall strength. They have excellent field players in Stephen Carlson, Tamatoa Hackney and Satoshi Mitsuda, and a solid goalkeeper in David Semenza.

Baldwin (10-0) returns Advertiser All-State midfielder Keola Nobriga, and is seeded third.

"The thing about them is they have no ties," Yamamoto said. "With Punahou and us, we have ties. We played (Baldwin) in the preseason and won 2-1 in overtime. (Nobriga) is one of the best midfielders in the state and they're an excellent team; I think we're very, very even. Actually any one of us (out of three) could have been seeded No. 1."

Judging by last Saturday's OIA title game, Pearl City also could have been seeded 1A. The Chargers (9-2-1) out-shot Mililani 9-4 in the first 99 minutes and had several opportunities to win. Only Shimatsu's header off Kim's assist in the 100th minute prevented the game from going into penalty kicks.

Pearl City has two potent offensive weapons up front in Ricky Shinn and Chris Ka'auku'u, and a dependable fullback in Wesley Armacost.

Shinn, a 2002 Advertiser All-State defender, is dangerous anywhere on the field and even off of it.

He has at least six assists off throw-ins.

"Pearl City definitely is as good as any other team in the state," Yamamoto said. "They play a different style of soccer than we do, and they did a great job scouting us. That's why the game was so close."

Among the tournament sleepers, defending state runner-up Kamehameha (9-4-1) is one to watch. The Warriors have an All-State midfielder in David Gualdarama, and the rugged Interscholastic League of Honolulu schedule usually is good preparation for the state tournament.

Kamehameha also has something to prove, as it was awarded the state berth as the ILH's third-place team because runner-up Pac-Five is ineligible (see related story above).

Another sleeper is Moanalua, the OIA's fifth-place team.

The Menehunes have two fast forwards in Aaron Miura and Nick Dang, and freshman goalkeeper Jonathan Baba is improving quickly. Moanalua also has an experienced coach in Spencer Machado.

"He knows what he has and he always finds a way to get by," Yamamoto said. "I remember a few years ago we came in as the No. 1 seed and we lost to Moanalua in the first game in a shootout.

"But that's how it is. I don't care who you are, any team can take out a No. 1 at any time."

At Waipi'o peninsula soccer park

Tomorrow

• Game 1 — Kamehameha (9-4-1) vs. Roosevelt (8-5-1), 1 p.m. on Field 7.
• Game 2 — Kaua'i (7-1) vs. Moanalua (10-3-1), 3 p.m. on Field 7.
• Game 3 — Hawai'i Prep (14-2) vs. Castle (9-2-2), 1 p.m. on Field 8.
• Game 4 — Pearl City (9-2-1) vs. Honoka'a (10-5), 3 p.m. on Field 8.

Thursday

• Game 5 — Losers of Games 1 & 2, 1 p.m. on Field 7.
• Game 6 — Losers of Games 3 & 4, 3 p.m. on Field 8.

  (These games will be played in the stadium)

• Game 7 — Hilo (15-1) vs. Winner of Game 1, 1 p.m.
• Game 8 — Punahou (12-0-2) vs. Winner of Game 3, 3 p.m.
• Game 9 — Baldwin (10-0) vs. Winner of Game 4, 5 p.m.
• Game 10 — Mililani (11-0-1) vs. Winner of Game 2, 7 p.m.

Friday

• Game 11 — Losers of Games 7 & 10, 2 p.m. on Field 7.
• Game 12 — Losers of Games 8 & 9, 4 p.m. on Field 8.

  (These games will be played in the stadium)

• Game 13 — Winners of Games 8 & 9, 6 p.m.
• Game 14 — Winners of Games 7 & 10, 8 p.m.

Saturday

• Game 15 — Winners of Games 5 & 6, 2 p.m. on Field 7.
• Game 16 — Winners of Games 11 & 12, 4 p.m. on Field 8.

  (These games will be played in the stadium)

• Game 17 — Losers of Games 13 & 14, 6 p.m.
• Game 18 — Winners of Games 13 & 14, 8 p.m.