'Aiea wins OIA girls' soccer title, 2-1
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
'Aiea goalkeeper Lelani Kleman-Maeva stood at the goal line with the ball at her feet, unsure if she made the save and could start celebrating the O'ahu Interscholastic Association girls soccer championship.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
The referee waived off the goal, signifying that 'Aiea defeated Mililani, 2-1, in a match decided in the penalty-kicks portion, to win its first title since 1999 and snapping Mililani's streak of three consecutive titles yesterday at 'Aiea.
'Aiea goalkeeper Lelani Kleman-Maeva, second from left, gets mobbed after stopping Mililani's final penalty kick.
"I stopped it and it was right on the line, and I looked at the lady (the assistant referee) and she said it didn't go in," said Kleman-Maeva, an All-State volleyball player brought into the match only for the penalty-kicks portion. "I was expecting something harder. I was going to bend down, but my foot went first."
'Aiea outscored Mililani, 3-2, in the penalty-kicks portion of the match after playing to a 1-1 tie through 100 minutes of regulation time and overtime, in the first match since 2002 that the OIA title was decided in the penalty-kicks portion.
'Aiea (12-1-1) receives the OIA's top seed in the state tournament. Mililani, Pearl City, Moanalua and Kailua also will play in the tournament.
"It feels really awesome because this was supposed to be our last chance," 'Aiea junior forward Ambree Ako said. "All of our seniors are going and next year we might be weak. It feels good to finally win it in one of my four years here."
'Aiea's Tobi Kanehira, Tehane Higa, and Amanda Jungblut converted their kicks in the penalty-kicks portion and Kleman-Maeva stopped two shots to hand Mililani (10-1-2) its first loss of the season. Millilani's Sarah Yoro and Natalie Wong made their kicks.
"We practice penalty kicks every practice, and (Kleman-Maeva) was doing good," 'Aiea coach Gordon Matsuoka said. "She's intimidating, her size," he said of the 5-foot-11 Kleman-Maeva.
Ako opened the scoring in the 20th minute on an assist from junior midfielder Jaecie Kato. Kato received the ball about 10 yards past midfield from Kanehira on the right side of the field, and sent a 20-yard lofted pass to Ako, who was waiting in the middle of the field near the top of the 18-yard box. Ako volleyed her shot into the upper left corner of the goal.
"I didn't look at the goal, but I was trying to get it over the goalie," Ako said.
Mililani sophomore midfielder Stephanie Yoro scored the equalizer in the 60th minute when she made good on a 30-yard direct kick from the center of the field.
"We had a good opportunity and Steph came through," Mililani coach Ray Akiona said.
"I thought we would come back with another goal," Matsuoka said. "I told them if we scored two goal we would win, but unfortunately we didn't get that second goal."
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
ILH GIRLS
Varsity
Iolani 4, Pac-Five 0
Goals—Iol: Nicola Fergusson, Nicole Ha, Keri Oyadomari, Patricia Wong.
Kamehameha 7, Mid-Pacific 0
Goals—KS: Caycie Gusman 3, Sanoe Souza 2, Kelsie Chan 1, Jaqueline Ho 1.
