Four OIA teams fall in state soccer

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

PUKALANI, MAUI — Neighbor Island teams swept their O'ahu Interscholastic Association counterparts in first-round matches of the HHSAA/Meadow Gold Dairies Boys Soccer State Championships yesterday at Kana'iaupuni Stadium at Kamehameha-Maui.

Honoka'a defeated Pearl City, 3-2; Kealakehe downed Leilehua, 2-0, and Waimea outlasted Kaiser, 2-1, in penalty kicks.

"Neighbor Islands representing," Honoka'a junior defender Eli Bowman said. "This year, to come out and show we can play with the OIA's best, it's validation."

Kamehameha of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu made it a clean sweep of OIA teams, beating Kapolei, 2-0.

In today's quarterfinals, Honoka'a (13-4) of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation plays ILH champ Iolani (10-0-4) at 1 p.m., Waimea (6-0-2), the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champ, advances to play four-time defending state champion Mililani (10-0-2) at 3 p.m., Kamehameha plays BIIF champ Hawai'i Prep (16-0) at 5 p.m. and the BIIF's Kealakehe advances to meet Maui Interscholastic League champ King Kekaulike (7-1-1) at 7 p.m.

In Honoka'a's win over Pearl City (9-5) yesterday, Bowman scored two goals and had an assist.

Freshman Rogelio Maltezo scored in the 14th minute when he received a through ball from Bowman and beat a defender, shooting a soft ground ball into the right side of the goal.

A header by Bowman off a corner kick by senior forward Jake Fassett in the 22nd minute made it 2-0. The corner kick was set up after Fassett hit the right post on a penalty kick.

Pearl City junior forward Mark Matsumoto scored two goals in five minutes to tie the match at 2. His first was in the 26th minute after he received a 50-yard pass from senior defender Steven King, split a defender and the goalkeeper, and put the ball into the open goal. His second came in the 31st minute. After winning the ball about 25 yards from the goal and beating three defenders, he shot the ball into the right side of the goal with the outside of his right foot.

"I thought we were back in the game," said Pearl City coach Wade Higaki, a Honoka'a graduate. "I thought for sure the momentum would change."

Bowman's second goal of the match gave Honoka'a a 3-2 lead in the 44th minute. He scored on another corner kick by Fassett, who hit a sharp ball to the near post, which Bowman put into the net.

Bowman said the two exchanged signals, and Fassett sent the ball to the near post after realizing it was open.

"It wasn't my head or my foot, it was my chest or my thigh," Bowman said. "That one was kind of quick."

WAIMEA 2, KAISER 1 (PKs): Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champ Waimea outscored Kaiser, 3-1, in the penalty-kicks portion of the match.

Kenny Estes, Joseph Mecham and Chad Thompson converted their kicks for Waimea (6-0-2), and goalkeeper Justin Estes made three saves.

In regulation time, Kaiser (8-4-3) senior midfielder Jonathan Su scored in the 35th minute, and Menehune senior Joshua Cabral tied the match in the 57th minute.

KEALAKEHE 2, LEILEHUA 0: Junior forward Derek MacMullen and sophomore midfielder Marco Garcia scored for Kealakehe (14-3), the Big Island Interscholastic Federation runner-up.

MacMullen's goal came in the 35th minute off a cross from freshman midfielder Lanakila Ynigues from the left side of the field. Then, in the 67th minute, Garcia received a long ball from junior midfielder Trey Pettee and outjumped the Leilehua goalkeeper and headed the ball into the goal.

KAMEHAMEHA 2, KAPOLEI 0: Kamehameha senior Dustin Engle scored in the 34th minute, and David Obado converted in the 50th minute to lead the Warriors (11-3-1) of the ILH. Kapolei fell to 9-2-2.

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