Punahou wins fourth consecutive girls' title

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Punahou's N.G.P. — "No Goals Policy" — fueled the Buffanblu to their eight straight shutout this season, a 2-0 win over Kamehameha yesterday in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls' match yesterday at Kapi'olani Park.

"Our defense is awesome," junior Rachael Lau said. "That's a goal for our defense, to not allow any goals. We just want that tradition of N.G.P. to continue."

Lau and sophomore Lizzy Carlson scored goals to lead Punahou, which has outscored opponents 34-0.

With the win, Punahou earned the ILH's lone berth into the state tournament. All ILH teams have no more than three games remaining on the schedule, and Punahou (8-0-0) has outdistanced itself from second-place Kamehameha (4-3-0) and third-place Iolani (4-2-1).

It is the Buffanblu's fourth straight ILH title, an accomplishment that Punahou coach Jorge Barbosa said is one of his biggest accomplishments.

"That's big time for us," he said. "The competition is so fierce in the ILH."

Led by senior goalkeeper Allison Lipsher — who had seven saves, but mostly on outside shots — Punahou's defense of Lisa Lerud, Kelsey Baker, Chelsea Deptula and Sophie Merrifield hardly allowed Kamehameha into their defensive third of the field.

In fact, two of Kamehameha's best scoring opportunities came off direct kicks by freshman Lanakila MacNaughton, which were about 35 yards out.

"(On one of the shots) the wind held the ball up, and I got kind of scared," said Lipsher, who had to knock the ball over the crossbar. "I got lucky."

Lau gave Punahou a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute when senior Karisa Look dropped a ball to her and Lau finished with a left-footed volley shot.

"It was really big because we came out flat and they kind of dominated us for a while," she said. "It gave us momentum. We picked it up and started pressuring more."

Carlson sealed the win for the Buffanblu when she scored in the 52nd minute on a self-described "shot-cross" that appeared to hit a patch of grass and take a funny bounce into the side of the net.

"I think there's a certain mystique about Punahou," Kamehameha coach Michelle Nagamine said. "They dominate when other teams would buckle. They are very experienced and play serious soccer in the offseason. A combination of things work for them."

In other games:

• Iolani 4, St. Francis 0. Iol: Samantha Teramae 2, Lucy Caires 1, Amy Lawson 1.
• Pac-Five 4, Mid-Pacific 1. Pac: Lauren Ho 2, Ashley Medcalf 1, Melissa Canite 1. MPI: Kaala Leong.

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