Kanehira helps 'Aiea girls beat Mililani, 2-1
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
'Aiea junior forward Tobi Kanehira stands about 5 feet 1, but her throw-ins, which travel between 25 and 30 yards, launched 'Aiea past Mililani, 2-1, last night in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division girls soccer match at 'Aiea.
With its win, and because Pearl City beat Kapolei, 4-0, last night, 'Aiea (6-0-0) is now alone atop the OIA West standings.
Senior midfielder Jodie Toyama scored the go-ahead goal on a left-footed volley into the left side of the goal in the 54th minute when a throw-in by Kanehira bounced across the penalty box, where Toyama was waiting in an area just beyond the right post on the 18-yard line.
"I think it puts pressure on the defense," 'Aiea coach Gordon Matsuoka said of Kanehira's throw-ins. "We've been practicing that maybe about once a week, not that often because we know she can throw.
"We've been successful every so often, maybe once every 25 times. I think tonight we were fortunate to be in the right place."
'Aiea sophomore forward Andrea Fukuhara scored in the 12th minute when she flicked the ball with her head over the Trojan goalkeeper, who had come off her line on another throw-in by Kanehira.
"It's mainly one person checking, who is supposed to flick it back over the middle," Kanehira said.
Kanehira, who said she practices her throw-ins every day, takes all the throw-ins that are near the goal.
"They have great distance on it and it is an attack option," Mililani coach Ray Akiona said. "We needed to be more organized on our set plays."
Senior midfielder Alexis Choi scored for the Trojans (5-1-0) — the first goal allowed by 'Aiea this season — with a little more than a minute left in the first half.
Choi scored when a rebound from Erin Kikumoto's direct kick bounced off a defender, which Choi controlled. She took a touch to her right, setting herself up for a low right-footed shot into the right corner of the goal.
It is the second big win of the regular season for Na Ali'i, who beat Pearl City, 1-0, earlier.
"This is the first time we've beaten Mililani and Pearl City (in the same season)," Matsuoka said.
"This is very big," Kanehira added.
Girls
• Radford 4, Wai'anae 3. Rad — Aileen Salazar, Sarah Brown, Charity Burd, Jenna Johnson-Endo. Wai — Tazr`e Wentling 3.
• Leilehua 6, Nanakuli 0. Lei — Maureen Kleaver 3, Charlene Borromeo 2, Gabriella Pascual 1.
• Waialua 5, Waipahu 1. Waial — Richelle Umbay 2, Cheyenne Opiana 1, Shantell Rivers 1, Lorin Milotta 1. Waip — not reported.
• Pearl City 4, Kapolei 0. PC — Chelsea Arakawa 2, Blessing Drumeller 1, Ashley Hashimoto 1.
• Castle 1, Kalaheo 0. Cast — Aimee Watanabe.
Boys
• Wai'anae 2, Radford 0. Wai — Anthony Frantela, Joshua Woodard.
• Waialua 1, Waipahu 1. Wail — Dana Bjorn. Waip — Roy Pentecostes.
• Pearl City 2, Kapolei 1. PC — Wai Kong Ho, Jaren Oshiro. Kap — Rhys Kita.
• Mililani 3, 'Aiea 0. Mil — Justin Ching, Brent Murakami, Justin Kim.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
