Iolani boys capture ILH soccer title
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Iolani senior defender Adam Inaba nailed a right-footed volley into an open goal, lifting the Raiders to a 1-0 win over Punahou and the Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys soccer championship yesterday at Kapi'olani Park.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
The Raiders (10-0-3), who won their first ILH title since 2001, will receive the league's top seed in next week's state tournament.
Punahou's Callum Trigg-Smith soars for a header against Iolani's Patrick Haines during an Interscholastic League of Honolulu match at Kapi'olani Park. The Raiders won, 1-0.
"It was a real pride-booster, we needed this one," Iolani sophomore Scott Perske said. "You gotta put the effort in and execute, and we did that today."
The loss knocked Punahou out of the race for the ILH's second and final state berth, which will go to either Kamehameha or Pac-Five.
Pac-Five (9-2-2) defeated Hawai'i Baptist, 5-1, yesterday and has one game remaining — tomorrow against Iolani. Kamehameha (9-2-3) beat Mid-Pacific, 5-1, in its regular-season finale.
If Pac-Five beats Iolani, it clinches the state berth. A tie would force a playoff with Kamehameha, while a Pac-Five loss would put Kamehameha in the state tournament.
"It was crucial," Inaba said of Iolani's win. "It takes so much pressure off us. We're still going to play hard (against Pac-Five), but it takes the pressure off."
Inaba scored in the 60th minute when the Punahou goalkeeper bobbled a header attempt by Chris Faulkner. Perske had sent a 40-yard direct kick that curled from the left side of the penalty box to the right side of the goal.
"We've been practicing crashing the goal in case the keeper mishandles the ball," said Inaba, who was marked at the time of the kick, but was alone in front of the goal when the ball bounced out of the goalkeeper's arms.
"(Perske) has an awesome kick with a big swerve," Inaba said.
Iolani goalkeeper Jason Keanini sealed the win when he made a save on a 20-yard direct kick by Punahou senior Stephen Carlson with time running out.
"It's one of the biggest events that our school has," Keanini said. "We tried to get people here, but there's a basketball game (against Punahou)."
Carlson, who signed with Loyola Marymount (Calif.), agreed that the Iolani-Punahou soccer rivalry is strong.
"It seems to be more competitive than any other sport, but maybe because I play soccer," Carlson said. "I guess it's what you want, a championship match to go to states with your rivals."
Punahou, which started the season 1-3, finished 9-4-1.
"We're proud of the way it ended up," Punahou coach Bob Clague said. "We came a long way in a short time."
• Pac-Five 5, Hawai'i Baptist 1—P5: Tom Culver, Reid Woodward, Ryuta Iihoma, Jeremy Wittig, Justin Katto. HBA: Cameron Holm.
• Kamehameha 5, Mid-Pacific 1—KS: Makana Protheros 2, Logan Sauer, David Gualdarama, Jesse LeStronge. MPI: Pablo Lee.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
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| Ohana Hotels State Girls Championships
At Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex TODAY (No. is playing field number) All games 3 p.m. G1—Kailua vs. King Kekaulike, No. 5 G2—'Aiea vs. Kaua'i, No. 6 G3—Waiakea vs. Kalaheo, No. 7 G4—Hilo vs. Pearl City, No. 8
Consolation G5—Losers of G1 and G2, 1 p.m., No. 7 G6—Losers of G3 and G4, 1 p.m., No. 8 Winners' bracket, all at stadium G7—Hawai'i Prep vs. 'Aiea-Kaua'i winner, 1 p.m. G8—Mililani vs. Waiakea-Kalaheo winner, 3 p.m. G9—Baldwin vs. Hilo-Pearl City winner, 5 p.m. G10—Punahou vs. Kailua-King Kekaulike winner, 7 p.m.
Consolation G11—Losers of G10 and G7, 4 p.m., No. 7 G12—Losers of G8 and G9, 4 p.m., No. 8 Semifinals, all at stadium G13—Winners of G8 and G9, 6 p.m. G14—Winners of G7 and G10, 8 p.m. Saturday Consolation—Winners of G5 and G6, 4 p.m., No. 7 Fifth place—Winners of G11 and G12, 4 p.m., No. 8 Third place—Losers of G13 and G 14, 6 p.m., stadium Championship—Winners of G13 and G14, 8 p.m., stadium |
