Kalaheo, Mililani in OIA soccer title game

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kalaheo's Max Anton scores on this shot in the first half against Kaiser in an OIA boys soccer semifinal. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Kalaheo defeated Kaiser, 1-0, in a semifinal game yesterday in the boys tournament at 'Aiea.

Kalaheo (8-3-2), the East's No. 5 seed, will face West No. 1 Mililani (11-0) for the OIA title at 4 p.m. Saturday at Kaiser High School.

Mililani defeated Castle, 3-0, in the other semifinal yesterday. Mililani is the three-time defending state champion and two-time defending OIA champion.

"It feels good, it's very surprising," said Max Anton, who scored Kalaheo's goal yesterday. "We peaked at the right time. Toward the end of the season, our team just jelled."

Kalaheo, Kaiser (10-2-1), Castle (9-2-1) and Mililani already earned berths into the state tournament. The OIA's fifth and final berth has yet to be decided.

Anton, a senior forward, scored in the 11th minute off a 60-yard pass from freshman defender Zachary Ellwell. The pass, which isolated Anton with one defender, allowed Anton to head the ball once for control, take a touch to his right to set himself up, and chip the ball over the Kaiser goalkeeper's head.

"It was a perfect pass," Anton said. "The sweeper misjudged the ball."

Ellwell, who cleared the ball after a throw-in by Kaiser, said it was a typical play for the Mustangs.

"I just blast it up, they normally get it," Ellwell said. "Max and Franklin (Cuello) are so fast, I might as well give it a try."

Their counter-attack strategy worked, and was unintentionally aided by Kaiser's aggressiveness on set plays. The Cougars usually send two defenders up for throw-ins, corner kicks and restarts.

Mililani's Justin Ching, left, tries to block a pass by Castle's Kory Muraoka in the first half of their OIA semifinal. Mililani won, 3-0. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Kalaheo coach Leo Titcomb said that apart from the win, he was happy to see three Eastern Division teams in the OIA semifinals.

"I'm happy with the amount of East teams. The West has been so dominant," Titcomb said. "It's nice to get a good mix in."

Titcomb said one reason for his team's victory was because the Mustangs won so many balls in the air. Another factor was the speed of forwards Cuello and Anton.

"We put the ball over the top and it put them on their heels," he said. "It gave us more space in the middle of the field."

The Mustangs, who have not lost a game since their 0-3 start, have already beaten West No. 4 seed 'Aiea, 2-1, in two overtimes, and the East's No. 1 seed, Moanalua, 1-0, in the OIA tournament. Anton said he wasn't surprised that the Mustangs were given the East's fifth seed.

"(The seeding) meant nothing; the East was such a big bunch, anybody could have come out on top."

• Mililani 3, Castle 0: Senior forward Justin Kim scored two goals off assists from Ehren Ching, and contributed to a Castle own goal to send Mililani to the OIA championship game.

The Trojans' first goal came in the 23rd minute when Ching, a senior midfielder, dribbled down the right sideline, beat a defender, and split two others with a pass for the awaiting Kim, who finished with a low shot to the right side of the goal.

The second came in the 63rd minute when Ching again beat one defender near the right corner and sent a low cross, which a Castle defender whiffed. This time Kim, who was waiting near the penalty mark, sent a low shot to the left side of the goal.

Mililani's third goal came in the 67th minute when Kim's throw-in was headed into the goal by a Castle defender.

"We didn't play our best game," Kim said. "We had a lot of chances and dominated, but it wasn't our best performance."

Added Mililani co-head coach Steve McGehee: "I think there's another gear in this team. If we have more discipline, I think we'll finish off strong."

O'ahu Interscholastic Association

Boys Varsity

Consolation

Kapolei 4, Leilehua 1. Kap: Curtis Kiyabu, Drew Geis, Rhys Kita, Brandon Pieper. Leil: Gus Caruso.

Pearl City 2, Moanalua 0. PC: Keone Peiper, Jaren Oshiro.

Semifinals

Kalaheo 1, Kaiser 0. Kalah: Max Anton.

Mililani 3, Castle 0. Mili: Justin Kim 2, own goal.

Interscholastic League of Honolulu

Iolani 1, Mid-Pacific 1. MPI: Justin Akai. Iol: Patrick Haines.

Punahou 6, Damien 0. Pun: Stephen Carlson 2, Callum Trigg-Smith 2, Shon Morishige, Aaron Mun.

Pac-Five 4, Saint Louis 2. P5: Justin Fajota 2, Ryuta Iihama, Jeremy Wittig. St.L: Devin O'Neal 2.

Hawai'i Baptist 2, Kamehameha 2. HBA: Cameron Holm 2. KS: Kekoa Osorio, Logan Sauer.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.