Punahou, Mililani reach soccer title game

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Punahou's Stephen Carlson gets behind Pearl City's Jordan Avenue in their state tournament semifinal game at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Park. Punahou won, 2-0. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser Meadow Gold State Soccer Championships At Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex Wednesday's results First Round Kamehameha 5, Roosevelt 0 Kaua'i 3, Moanalua 2 Hawai'i Prep 3, Castle, 1 Pearl City 3, Honoka'a, 0 Thursday's results Consolation games Moanalua 1, Roosevelt 0 Honoka'a, 3, Castle 2 Quarterfinals Kamehameha 2, Hilo 0 Punahou 3, Hawai'i Prep 0 Pearl City 4, Baldwin 3 Mililani 3, Kaua'i 0 Yesterday's results Consolation games Hilo 2, Kaua'i 1 Hawai'i Prep (16-3) 1, Baldwin (10-2) 0, forfeit Semifinals Punahou 2, Pearl City 0 Mililani 1, Kamehameha 0 Today's games Seventh place Moanalua (11-4-1) vs. Honoka'a (11-6), 2 p.m. on Field 7 Fifth place Hilo vs. Hawai'i Prep, 4 p.m. on Field 8 Third place Pearl City vs. Kamehameha, 6 p.m. Championship Punahou vs. Mililani, 8 p.m.

Nicholas Wachi and Satoshi Mitsuda each scored second-half goals and goalie David Semenza recorded his second straight shutout as Punahou defeated Pearl City, 2-0, in a semifinal game.

In the other semifinal, Mililani edged Kamehameha, 1-0, in double overtime on a goal by junior midfielder Justin Kim.

The Buffanblu (14-0-2) will try for their 15th state championship today against Mililani (13-0-1) in a battle of the state's two undefeated teams.

Kim's game-winning goal came off a direct free kick from 30 yards out at 95:31. Mililani received the free kick when junior midfielder Brent Murakami was tripped by a Kamehameha player.

With a wall of defenders in front of him, Kim chipped the ball over the wall and into the left corner of the goal.

"It's a big feeling to get a goal in a big game like this," Kim said. "Steven McGehee, our set plays coach, has been helping me improve every day on this shot."

Kamehameha goalie Nick Freitas, who stopped five Mililani shots, credited Kim for hitting a perfect shot.

"It was a hell of a shot," Freitas said. "I lost it in the dark. I should have went by reaction instead of watching the ball. But I'm not making excuses, it was a great shot."

Added Mililani coach Jeff Yamamoto: "It must have been good for the fans. I thought Justin did an outstanding job during the game and finishing the game."

Kamehameha coach Andrew Ah New said he knew the game was going to come down to a set play.

"We knew it was going to be a close one and exciting," Ah New said. "Both teams gave a winning effort, but Mililani was the winning team."

In the other semifinal, Pearl City held Punahou scoreless in the first half, but couldn't contain Wachi and Mitsuda in the final 40 minutes.

"Punahou's an awesome team," Pearl City coach Scott Keopuhiwa said. "They came out and showed why they are such a dominant program in the state. They haven't been here in a while, but they're still one of the best teams in the state, no matter what."

Punahou broke a scoreless tie on senior midfielder Wachi's goal at 49:53. On the play, junior forward Stephen Carlson headed the ball to a streaking Wachi, who broke free in the Pearl City backfield and knocked the ball past a drawn-out goalie.

"When it's 0-0 at halftime, the goal that scores first is a crucial goal because it breaks the ice," Punahou coach Bob Clague said. "Nic Wachi has come along for us this season. I almost didn't keep him this season. I was going to cut him. He was the last guy. Our last practice, he really stepped it up and that's what made the difference. I give him credit for his work ethic."

Close to nine minutes later, the Buffanblu scored their second goal off a second-chance opportunity when the Pearl City goalie fumbled the ball in the goal box and then overran it. Senior forward Mitsuda, who also overran the ball, scrambled back around the goalie and placed the ball into the unguarded net at 58:25.

"It was a heads-up play," Mitsuda said. "I was just there at the right time and right place."

Another player who came up big in the second half was Semenza, who recorded four saves, including three in the final 40 minutes.

"I think he's the player of the game," Wachi said. "He really, really saved this game for us."

The loss by Pearl City (11-3-1) overshadowed solid efforts by Chargers' goalies junior Christopher Caswell and senior Jerome Valdriz. The two goalies combined to save 11 shots, including seven by Caswell in the scoreless first half.

"We did as much as we could to stay with them," Keopuhiwa said. "They got the best of us."

Hilo 2, Kaua'i 1: Senior midfielder Moi Kanealii scored two second-half goals as the Vikings rallied to defeat the Red Raiders in a consolation game.

Junior midfielder Justin Toulon scored one goal for Kaua'i on a penalty kick in the first half.

Hilo, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, improved to 16-2 and will play Hawai'i Prep for fifth place today.

The Red Raiders, the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champions, dropped to 8-3 and were eliminated from the tournament.

Forfeit followup: Hawai'i Prep advanced to today's fifth-place game against Hilo as a result of a forfeit by Baldwin. The decision to forfeit the game came from Baldwin athletic director Jon Garcia after Thursday's Baldwin-Pearl City game when a Baldwin player pushed a referee down to the ground.

State high school athletic officials will decide whether additional penalties are warranted, according to Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Executive Director Keith Amemiya.

The incident happened immediately after the Bears' 4-3 loss when senior defender-midfielder Ekolu Saffrey shoved referee Kaleo Benz to the ground at midfield.

As a result of the incident, Garcia decided to forfeit yesterday's consolation game against Hawai'i Prep.

"Baldwin and the Maui Interscholastic League are looking into possible further action against the player and the team," Amemiya said. "As for the HHSAA, I'll discuss it with the leagues if any further action is necessary."

Amemiya declined to say what types of penalties, if any, would be levied against the player or the school. He said members of the HHSAA would discuss the issue at their next meeting in April.

After the incident, Benz said Saffrey's father apologized for his son's actions. Benz, who visited the press box for a few minutes last night, said the father didn't say why his son pushed him during the five-minute apology.

During the game, Benz gave Saffrey a yellow card for arguing a call, but Baldwin coach Fred Guzman said he doubted if that was what prompted Saffrey to push the official.