Kahuku, Pearl City top seeds in OIA girls soccer playoffs

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kaiser High School athletic director Ricky Shimokawa, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's soccer coordinator, untangled the mess that was the girls regular season standings Monday night and came out with the pairings for the 12-team championship playoffs that begin today at Castle and Pearl City.

Unusual parity this year made brackets tough to sort out. In the Eastern Division, four teams (Castle, Kailua, Kaiser and Kalaheo) finished in a tie for second place with 6-1-3 records. In the West, Mililani and Pearl City ended up tied for first at 9-0-1 and Kapolei and Leilehua were knotted in fourth place at 6-3-1.

First things first:

The No. 1 seed in the West went to Pearl City after the Chargers won a coin flip, which was the fifth tiebreaker option. Mililani and Pearl City were deadlocked in the first four criteria — head-to-head, won-loss record (minus ties), common opponents, points of opponents defeated.

"When I was looking at it, I actually wanted to lose the coin toss," Mililani coach James Uson said. "I didn't want to be in the same bracket as (West No. 3) 'Aiea, because 'Aiea always gives us problems."

As the No. 2 seed, however, the Trojans now must play their quarterfinal game at the site of East No. 1 Kahuku. Pearl City gets to host its quarterfinal game.

"It doesn't matter to me where we play," Pearl City co-coach Frank Baumholtz said. "I like that movie, 'Hoosiers.' It's not where you play, it's the way you play it."

Second things second:

The East No. 2 seed went to Kaiser, because Castle and Kaiser came out ahead of Kailua and Kalaheo in the defeated opponents' points tiebreaker and Kaiser defeated Castle head-to-head. So Castle is No. 3.

Fourth things fourth:

Kailua and Kalaheo had to flip a coin for the East No. 4 seed, and Kailua won. Kapolei earned the West No. 4 seed via a coin toss with Leilehua.

In the end, here is how it all shook out: East — No. 1 Kahuku (7-2-1), No. 2 Kaiser, No. 3 Castle, No. 4 Kailua, No. 5 Kalaheo, No. 6 Moanalua (5-1-4); West — No. 1 Pearl City, No. 2 Mililani, No. 3 'Aiea (8-2-0), No. 4 Kapolei, No. 5 Leilehua, No. 6 Radford (4-5-1).

Whew.

As tough as that was to assemble, the games promise to be even tougher. There were 20 ties in the East alone this season, indicating close games and overtime periods could be the norm throughout the tournament.

The East was so balanced, Kahuku went from fifth place two weeks ago to first place in a matter of three games.

"That says a lot about the parity," Castle coach Mark Kane said. "The games are so close, I think it'll probably come down to goalkeeping. But there's only a few dominant keepers."

There's one fewer now, since Kalaheo's Amy Lusk injured her knee in last Saturday's game against Kailua and is expected to be out of action. She has an MRI exam scheduled for today.

"We haven't had good luck with penalty kicks (periods) in the past, so I hate to think it'll come down to that," Kalaheo coach Alan Heu said. "I want it to be decided out there (during game action)."

Last year, champion Mililani, runner-up Kalaheo and semifinalist Pearl City had college-level scorers Mele French, Lindsey Peck and Carmen Calpo, respectively, to rely on when a goal was needed in crunch time. This season, only Kahuku's Krisha Kai (15 goals) may fit into that category as a clear go-to girl.

"Krisha is really the only one this year who can carry a team as an individual," Kane said. "She can make the difference."

So can illness (Pearl City has had six players fall ill in the past week), weather (rain is forecast for today and tomorrow) and unsung heroes.

"That's what makes it unique," Baumholtz said. "We had 11 different people score for us this year. Against 'Aiea, it was our fullback. But that's how it's been this season. You have to play defense from the midfield on in.

"Whether you're (seeded) third or sixth, everybody is even, and the ball can bounce any way."

Tournament schedule

First round

Today

At Castle

5:30 p.m. — East No. 5 Kalaheo (6-1-3) vs. West No. 4 Kapolei (6-3-1)

7:15 p.m. — West No. 6 Radford (4-5-1) vs. East No. 3 Castle (6-1-3)

At Pearl City

5:30 p.m. — West No. 5 Leilehua (6-3-1) vs. East No. 4 Kailua (6-1-3)

7:15 p.m. — East No. 6 Moanalua (5-1-4) vs. West No. 3 'Aiea (8-2-0)

Quarterfinals

Tomorrow

At Kahuku

5:30 p.m. — Castle-Radford winner vs. West No. 2 Mililani (9-0-1)

7:15 p.m. — Kalaheo-Kapolei winner vs. East No. 1 Kahuku (7-2-1)

At Pearl City

5:30 p.m. — 'Aiea-Moanalua winner vs. East No. 2 Kaiser (6-1-3)

7:15 p.m. — Kailua-Leilehua winner vs. West No. 1 Pearl City (9-0-1)

Semifinals

Feb. 4

At Mililani

5:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. — Quarterfinal winners

Consolation

Feb. 5 and Feb. 7

At Kailua

5:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. — Quarterfinal losers

Championship

Feb. 8

At Pearl City

5:30 p.m. — Semifinal winners