Twelve teams will vie for title at Maui's War Memorial

• Meadow Gold Girls State Soccer Championship

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Mililani's Jen Loo, left, and Pearl City's Kari Tanimoto battle for the ball during the OIA Championship game. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

The tournament returns to the Valley Isle for the first time since 1999, with four first-round games set for tomorrow at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku.

The narrow field at War Memorial is in sharp contrast to the ones played in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, which could have the greatest effect on ILH champion and No. 2 seed Punahou (9-0-1).

"It's a disadvantage to us, but no matter what field you play on, you still gotta play well on it," Punahou coach Jorge Barbosa said. "There's gonna be teams that will play the long ball on us, and we just have to make sure we don't get frustrated."

The ILH plays many of its regular-season games on wide fields at Kapi'olani Park, Mid-Pacific and Kamehameha. The O'ahu Interscholastic Association, meanwhile, plays its entire schedule at school football fields, which are narrower.

The OIA has five teams in the tournament, including defending state champion and No. 1 seed Mililani (12-0-1).

The two Maui Interscholastic League entries, champion Baldwin (12-0) and runner-up King Kekaulike (9-2-1), normally don't play at War Memorial during the season, but they will enjoy the rare home-crowd advantage.

And all the teams except Punahou must spring back from at least 11 days of inaction. The Buffanblu ended their season on Feb. 12 with a 1-1 tie against Iolani.

"We had a little letdown at the end, but it wasn't as bad as last year (when Punahou finished the ILH 2-1-2 in the final five games)," Barbosa said. "We were in the doldrums (last year), and I told the girls we had to get better fast. It's the same thing this year; we need to re-focus and get better results."

The competition bar definitely gets raised this week. Mililani, Punahou and Baldwin all made it to last year's semifinals, as did 'Aiea, which is back again with an 11-3-0 record.

Barbosa said he has no problem with the Trojans receiving the No. 1 seed, despite Mililani's close 3-2 victory over Pearl City in the OIA title game on a tough-to-see goal in the 92nd minute.

"It's fair enough," Barbosa said. "I realize they're the defending champs and they won the OIA again, so they deserve it."

The Trojans made their run last year with State Co-Player of the Year Mele French, who played for the University of Oregon last fall. But sophomore Sarah Yoro has emerged as a French-like scorer in the past few weeks.

Yoro scored a goal in Mililani's 3-0 victory over Kahuku in the OIA semifinals, then scored two goals in the win over Pearl City for the championship.

"She's been amazing, I'm really impressed with her," Barbosa said. "She looks like she's come a long way and is ready to step up big-time."

Senior Jen Loo, an Advertiser All-State midfielder last season, scored a goal in the Trojans' victory over Kahuku and had the winning goal in the win over Pearl City. Liane Tom is another strong offensive weapon and second-team All-State goalkeeper Eryn Kishimoto is backed up by two stellar defenders in Mallory Iha and Veronica DeGuzman.

Punahou has similar balance, with strong offensive players in Adria Campbell and Ashley Collins as well as solid defenders Kelsey Baker and Shaina Sonobe plus an athletic goalkeeper in Ali Lipsher.

The Buffanblu also have gotten improved play from freshman Liz Carlson, junior Kelly Hiraki and sophomore Kelsie Look. But Barbosa said a key to this year's success has been senior leadership.

"That helps take a lot of responsibility off my shoulders," Barbosa said. "In my four years here, this team has the best chemistry I've seen. That's our strength, and it's really been a joy."

Baldwin won championships in 2000 and 2001, and lost last year's title game in penalty kicks.

The Bears return two All-State players in senior midfielder/defender Koren Takeyama and junior midfielder/forward Kami Kapaku.

"They always seem to peak at the right time," said Barbosa, whose Buffanblu lost to Baldwin in penalty kicks in last year's semifinals.

Fourth-seeded Hawai'i Prep, champion of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, is led by midfielders Mikela Yarawamai and Sheri Wilhelm. Ka Makani (12-1-0) also has two multi-sport stars in tennis player Michelle Pautler, the state runner-up the past two seasons, and Karly Kopra, a top swimmer.

Their only defeat was to Hilo (11-2-0).

Other contenders include Pearl City (11-1-1) and 'Aiea (11-3-0). Pearl City is led by senior forward Kim Unten, and junior forward Chante Figueroa appears to have returned to the form which made her the third-leading goal scorer in the OIA Western Division last year.

'Aiea has a tough defensive style which causes problems for many teams. Na Ali'i's offense is led by senior halfback Randene Ako.

Other top scorers in the tournament are Kahuku senior Krisha Kai, who signed with UH last week, Hilo's Rachel Clevenger (15 goals) and Katrina Chong (14) and Kealakehe's Lisa Franke.

Meadow Gold Girls State Soccer Championship

Tomorrow
At War Memorial Stadium

• Game 1 — Kealakehe (11-3) vs. Kahuku (8-4-1), 1:30 p.m.
• Game 2 — Kaua'i (5-1-2) vs. Kalaheo (9-2-3), 3:30 p.m.
• Game 3 — Pearl City (11-1-1) vs. Hilo (11-2), 5:30 p.m.
• Game 4 — King Kekaulike (9-2-1) vs. 'Aiea (11-3-0), 7:30 p.m.

Thursday
At Keopuolani Park

• Game 5 — Losers of Games 2 & 4, 1:30 p.m.
• Game 6 — Loser of Games 1 & 3, 3:30 p.m.

At War Memorial Stadium

• Game 7 — Punahou (9-0-1) vs. Winner of Game 1, 1:30 p.m.
• Game 8 — Mililani (12-0-1) vs. Winner of Game 2, 3:30 p.m.
• Game 9 — Hawai'i Prep (12-1) vs. Winner of Game 4, 5:30 p.m.
• Game 10 — Baldwin (12-0) vs. Winner of Game 3, 7:30 p.m.

Friday
At Keopuolani Park

• Game 11 — Losers of Games 8 & 9, 1:30 p.m.
• Game 12 — Loser of Games 7 & 10, 3:30 p.m.

At War Memorial Stadium

• Game 13 — Winners of Games 8 & 9, 5:30 p.m.
• Game 14 —ÊWinners of Games 7 & 10, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday
At War Memorial Stadium

• Game 15 — Winners of Games 5 & 6, 1:30 p.m.
• Game 16 — Winners of Games 11 & 12, 3:30 p.m.
• Game 17 — Losers of Games 13 & 14, 5:30 p.m.
• Game 18 — Winners of Games 13 & 14, 7:30 p.m.

Admission: Ticket prices are $7 adults, $5 for students grades K through 12th.