"This is definitely their biggest win," Moanalua coach Nikki Dela Pena said. "This is historical for them. Their intensity carried them the whole way."

Moanalua (10-2-4) advanced to tonight's championship match at 8 against Punahou (10-2-2), a 1-0 winner over Mililani in last night's second semifinal match.

The Menehunes can thank the crossbar, which blocked three 'Aiea shots, which Dela Pena called, "extremely lucky, or in their case, unlucky."

None of the Moanalua players had been to the state tournament before; the last time it qualified for the tournament was in 2000. 'Aiea (13-2-1), the O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion, had been to eight straight tournaments and advanced to the semifinals in the previous four.

Moanalua, led by goals by sophomore forward Vanessa Butin and sophomore midfielder Ayasha Abut, capitalized on its opportunities and prevented 'Aiea from getting into an offensive rhythm.

"I looked over my shoulder to go right, and went left," Butin said. "I was thinking, 'This is the only shot I might get,' so I whacked it as hard as I could."

Abut scored in the 62nd minute, on a 30-yard shot from the left side of the field after Butin dropped the ball to her.

"I wanted a cross, so someone could finish it for me," Abut said. "I don't know what it was supposed to be. I saw it coming near the goal, and I was like, 'Please go in.' "

'Aiea junior forward Ambree Ako had a good chance in the 26th minute, but Moanalua senior goalkeeper Amanda Fukushima stopped her on a one-on-one diving save.

To start the second half, Fukushima had another nice save, getting her hand on a chipped shot from senior forward Tobi Kanehira and knocking it off the crossbar three minutes into the half. That play followed another long shot that clanged off the crossbar.

"The goal was just too short for us tonight; we were unlucky," 'Aiea coach Gordon Matsuoka said.

Yet another Na Ali'i shot hit the crossbar: a header by senior defender Tehane Higa off a corner kick by Ako, in the 69th minute.

PUNAHOU 1, MILILANI 0

The last time Punahou and Mililani played in the state tournament, Punahou won its second straight state title on tie-breaking penalty kicks.

Last night, it was a penalty kick by junior midfielder Lizzy Carlson in the 46th minute, her second goal of the tournament, that was the difference-maker.

"You know it's going to be a close game," Carlson said. "It just comes down to something close like a free kick."

Top-seeded Punahou, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, was awarded the penalty kick after senior forward/midfielder Ashley Collins was fouled in the penalty box.

In a physical game, with 29 combined fouls (21 by Mililani), two yellow cards and one red card, Mililani couldn't get an offense mounted because Punahou's defense of senior Kelsey Baker, juniors Sophie Merrifield and Kellie Nakahara and sophomores Chelsea Deptula and Kelsie Gomes rarely allowed the ball into their defensive third of the field.

"I might be biased, but I think we dominated," Carlson said. "We had our chances."

Consolation

PEARL CITY 3, HILO 1

Forward Lauren Maeshiro (17th minute), midfielder Anne Ochiae (54th), and forward/midfielder Tawnee Sakima (59th) scored for the Chargers (13-2-1). Midfielder Katrina Chong scored in the 50th minute for the Vikings (15-4).

Baldwin 3, Konawaena 2: Midfielder Maris Van Der Lee (35th), midfielder Keisha Shishido (68th) and defender Heidi Namauu (71st) scored for the Bears (10-2-0). Forward Jazzmin Williams (37th) and midfielder Jennie Barto (55th) scored for the Wildcats (12-7-0).