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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Saturday, January 15, 2005

Iolani moves into ILH lead

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

For the second time this week, the Punahou and Iolani girls soccer teams played to a 0-0 tie, but it was another match earlier in the season that might end up having the biggest impact on the Interscholastic League of Honolulu standings.

Punahou's Rachael Lau gets her foot on the ball in front of Iolani's Patricia Wong. The Buffanblu's Ashley Collins is in the background.

Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

After yesterday's match, Punahou athletic director Kale Ane said the Buffanblu forfeited a 3-0 victory against Pac-Five on Jan. 3 for using an ineligible player.

"We went though the ILH appeals process," Ane said. "And we were denied our appeal. We felt like we had a justifiable appeal, but in the end it came down to a rule was broken, and it was my responsibility as the AD in charge of soccer."

"I'm really disappointed for the kids. We're trying to prevent this from happening in the future by establishing some checks and balances."

Punahou coach Jorge Barbosa added: "When you have other teams looking for a forfeit because they haven't beaten you in three years, what can you do?"

Punahou's forfeit drops its record to 3-1-2. Iolani, at 4-0-2, moves into sole possession of the lead. Kamehameha is 2-2-0, followed by Pac-Five (2-3-0) and Mid-Pacific (0-5-0). The ILH receives one berth into the state tournament, and is in the middle of the second of its three-round schedule.

"It's unfortunate, because I think it should be decided on the field," Iolani coach Kari Morioka said.

On the field yesterday, the Buffanblu and Raiders couldn't seem to get the advantage on each other, even with Monday's 0-0 tie fresh on their minds.

"After Monday, we knew what we had to do," said Punahou defender Kelsey Baker, who celebrates her 18th birthday today. "They had no shots on goal (yesterday), so obviously we were trying."

Iolani did have a few shots on goal, but its first came 10 minutes into the second half. Its other solid opportunities came mostly on restarts.

Punahou, on the other hand, kept the offensive pressure on the Raiders, but couldn't get past Iolani goalkeeper Kiani Wong, who made several good saves.

"This group, they always come back," Barbosa said, saying the forfeit was "not a big deal."

Punahou, the two-time defending state champion and winner of four straight ILH titles, likely has to win its six remaining matches to contend for a fifth league title.

"Anybody can win on any given day," said Barbosa, who said he wasn't sure how news of the forfeit affected his players.

"I'm hoping it would," he said. "Did it? I'm not sure."

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