'Aiea girls earn No. 1 seeding
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
For the first time, the 'Aiea girls soccer team defeated perennial powerhouses Pearl City and Mililani in the same season.
"This is very big," 'Aiea junior forward Tobi Kanehira said after their 2-1 win over Mililani.
And it was. After going undefeated in the regular season, Na Ali'i (10-0-0) were rewarded the Western Division's No. 1 seed into the O'ahu Interscholastic Association tournament, which starts tomorrow.
"'Aiea is the team to beat," Castle coach Mark Kane said. "They have the best balance, and they seem to be peaking right now."
Castle (9-0-1) received the East Division's top seed, for the first time since 1999.
"We're peaking," Kane said. "If we can come up with our three best games, we'll be there."
Pearl City (8-1-1) out of the West and Kailua (7-1-2) out of the East are both No. 2 seeds.
The top two seeds from each division receive byes into the quarterfinals.
Castle's Aimee Watanabe lead's the Eastern Division with 10 goals, and Mililani's Sarah Yoro has 13 goals. Wai'anae's Tazr`e Wentling scored a division-high 15 goals, but Wai'anae did not advance to the tournament.
For the first time since 1996, Mililani (7-2-1) has not received one of the top two berths. The two-time defending OIA champion is seeded fourth, followed by No. 5 Leilehua (5-4-1).
Because Radford (4-5-1) defeated Wai'anae (4-5-1) in the regular season, it received the Western Division's sixth and final seed over the Seariders.
Rounding out the Eastern Division are No. 3 Kahuku (7-2-1), No. 4 Kalaheo (7-3-0), No. 5 Moanalua (6-2-2) and No. 6 Roosevelt (5-5-0).
"Kalaheo is a sleeper," Pearl City coach Frank Baumholtz said. "They can play really good, or they can play average. They always have the potential."
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
Girls tournament
First Round
Tomorrow
At Radford
- 5:30 p.m. — East No. 4 Kalaheo (7-3-0) vs. West No. 5 Leilehua (5-4-1)
- 7:15 p.m. — West No. 3 Kapolei (8-2-0) vs. East No. 6 Roosevelt (5-5-0)
At Kahuku
- 5:30 p.m. — West No. 4 Mililani (7-2-1) vs. East No. 5 Moanalua (6-2-2)
- 7:15 p.m. — East No. 3 Kahuku (7-2-1) vs. West No. 6 Radford (4-5-1)
Quarterfinals
Saturday
At 'Aiea
- 5:30 p.m. — East No. 2 Kailua (7-1-2) vs. Kapolei-Roosevelt winner
- 7:15 p.m. — West No. 1 'Aiea (10-0-0) vs. Kapolei-Roosevelt winner
At Castle
- 5:30 p.m. — West No. 2 Pearl City (8-1-1) vs. Kahuku-Radford winner
- 7:15 p.m. — East No. 1 Castle vs. Mililani-Moanalua winner
Semifinals
Wednesday, Feb. 4
At 'Aiea
- 5:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Quarterfinal winners
Consolation
At Castle
Wednesday
- 5:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Quarterfinal losers
Friday, Feb. 6
- 5:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. — 3rd and 5th place matches
Championship
Saturday, Feb. 7
At Kaiser
- 6 p.m. — Semifinal winners
Boys tournament
First Round
Yesterday's results
At Radford
Leilehua 3, Roosevelt 0
Lei: Syd Tom 2, R.B. Bibilone
Kapolei 4, Kalani 3
Kap: Kea Hashimoto, Rhys Kita, Keanui Cormack-McKeague, Bronson Pieper. Kala: Tyler Hee Wai, Marcus Nakama, Jordan Stephanos
At Kaiser
Kalaheo 2, 'Aiea 1, 2 OT
Kala-Max Anton, Franklin Cuello. 'Aiea: Mark Atta
Kaiser 4, Wai'anae 1
Kais: Jacob Curtis, Kaipo Dean, Steele LaGros, Matthew Bush. Wai: Joshua Woodard.
Quarterfinals
Today
At Mililani
- 5:15 p.m. — East No. 2 Castle (8-1-1) vs. Kapolei (8-2-0)
- 7 p.m. — West No. 1 Mililani (9-0-0) vs. Leilehua (6-4)
At Moanalua
- 5:15 p.m. — West No. 2 Pearl City (8-1-0) vs. Kaiser (9-1-1)
- 7 p.m. — East No. 1 Moanalua (8-1-1) vs. Kalaheo (6-3-2)
Semifinals
Tuesday, Feb 3
At 'Aiea
- 5:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Quarterfinal winners
Consolation
At Kailua
Tuesday
- 5:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Quarterfinal losers
Friday, Feb. 6
- 5:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. — 3rd and 5th place matches
Championship
Saturday Feb. 7
At Kaiser
- 4 p.m. — Semifinal winners
