Top seeds Mililani, Punahou reach final
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
WAILUKU, Maui — Sophomore Sarah Yoro scored on a short kick off Liane Tom's assist in the 98th minute last night to lift the top-seeded Mililani girls soccer team to a 1-0 victory over 'Aiea in the Meadow Gold State Soccer Championship Tournament semifinals.
The defending champion Trojans (14-0-1) will play second-seed Punahou, a 3-1 winner over Pearl City, for the championship tonight at 7:30 at War Memorial Stadium.
'Aiea (11-4-0), which reached the semifinals with penalty-kick victories over King Kekaulike and Hawai'i Prep, played 100 minutes of soccer in consecutive days before last night. Mililani, meanwhile, still had many players recovering from the flu.
"We were both starting at the same level," Yoro said.
Only 2 1/2 minutes prevented the teams from starting at the same level in another penalty-kick period.
"We were definitely tired, but I think we could have made it (to penalty kicks)," 'Aiea coach Gordon Matsuoka said. "We match up well with them, and our middle and back were playing real well."
Trojans coach James Uson said he wanted to avoid going to penalty kicks, especially because Tom was working on a sprained right ankle.
"Liane is one of my shooters, but we probably wouldn't have been able to use her," Uson said.
Yoro put it another way.
"I was hoping and praying it wouldn't go to penalty kicks," Yoro said. "Especially with the weather conditions ... it was raining and the ball was slippery, so you don't know what's going to happen."
Uson said he knew what to expect from Na Ali'i, which had beaten or tied Mililani several times in recent years.
" 'Aiea always gives us problems, because they know exactly how to play us," Uson said. "They know how to shut our passing lanes down."
Na Ali'i had been known to frustrate the Trojans with defensive struggles, but last night they showed aggressiveness on offense as well, out-shooting Mililani 5-4 in the second half. But the Trojans finally got a break when Jen Loo and Tom worked the ball down the left side, with Tom sending it across to Yoro near the back post, where she drilled it with her right foot high into the middle of the net.
"Coach was telling Jen and Annie (Liane) to stay up high and work on combinations, so it would draw the sweeper toward them and leave me open," Yoro said. "Annie gave me a perfect ball, but it was coming at my right foot, and I normally shoot with my left. But I'm glad it went in anyway."
MILILANI 0 0 0 1 — 1
'AIEA 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring: Sarah Yoro, from Liane Tom, 98th. Saves: Eryn Kishimoto (Mil) 12; Diana Shiroma (A) 11.
• Punahou 3, Pearl City 1: Adria Campbell scored two goals and Kelly Kalapa also scored to help the Buffanblu (11-0-1) rally past the Chargers (13-2-1).
Chelsea Arakawa scored in the 13th minute off Christie Ayers' free kick assist to give Pearl City a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute. But Campbell answered in the 17th minute on a turnaround shot at the penalty kick line off a cross by Kelsie Look. Campbell scored again unassisted three minutes later on another turnaround shot from the penalty arc.
Kalapa made it 3-1 in the 23rd minute on a rebound shot after another shot by Campbell bounced off the crossbar.
PUNAHOU 3 0 — 3
PEARL CITY 1 0 — 1
Scoring: Chelsea Arakawa (PC) from Christie Ayers, 13th; Adria Campbell (Pun) from Kelsie Look, 17th; Campbell (Pun) unassisted, 20th; Kelly Kalapa (Pun) unassisted, 23rd. Saves: Ali Lipsher (Pun) 2; Amber Horn (PC) 3.
• Kalaheo 2, Hawai'i Prep 1: The Mustangs (11-3-3) outscored Ka Makani 5-4 in penalty kicks to advance to today's fifth-place game against Baldwin.
Hawai'i Prep's Leslie Benigno scored at 21 minutes in the first half. Kalaheo tied it on Anela Gonzales' goal at 73 minutes.
Gonzales, Hea Kane, Tina Garcia, Breton Frazer and Chelsea Anglin scored for Kalaheo on penalty kicks in the tiebreaker. Kalaheo's goalkeeper stopped Benigno on HPA's final kick for the victory.
Hawai'i Prep finished 12-3.
• Baldwin 6, Kahuku 0: Kami Kapaku scored three goals — all in the first half — to lift the Bears (13-1) past the Red Raiders (9-6-1).
Kapaku scored at 6:30, 20:20 and 25:10. Koren Takeyama added two goals (40:00, 68:50). Kahuku had an own goal at 56:25.
Girls state soccer
• Yesterday
Consolation
At Keopuolani Park
Kalaheo 2, Hawai'i Prep 1 (5-4 in penalty kicks)
Baldwin 6, Kahuku 0
Semifinals
At War Memorial Stadium
Mililani 1, 'Aiea 0, 2 OTs
Punahou 3, Pearl City 1
• Today
At War Memorial Stadium
Consolation final: King Kekaulike (10-3-1) vs. Kealakehe (12-4), 1:30 p.m.
Fifth place: Kalaheo (11-3-3) vs. Baldwin (13-1), 3:30 p.m.
Third place: 'Aiea (11-4) vs. Pearl City (13-2-1), 5:30 p.m.
Championship: Mililani (14-0-1) vs. Punahou (11-0-1), 7:30 p.m.
Admission: Ticket prices are $7 adults, $5 for students grades K through 12th.
