honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, April 28, 2007

Price helps Punahou hand 'Iolani first loss

Photo galleryPunahou vs. 'Iolani gallery

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Punahou's Sasha Fuller, who scored two goals on penalty shots, looked for an opening in the 'Iolani defense in yesterday's ILH game.

ANDREW SHIMABUKU | The Honolulu Advertiser

spacer spacer

The Punahou girls water polo team did a nice job drawing penalties and cashing them in yesterday against 'Iolani.

Punahou was 4 of 6 on the power play and converted all three penalty shots in a 9-5 victory over host 'Iolani on the final day of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I season.

"'Iolani plays really solid defense," Punahou coach Ken Smith said. "We don't have a lot of fast swimmers so we just try to move as quick as we can to help offset some of their speed. When we sit around they're just too fast for us."

Aisha Price scored five goals and Sasha Fuller made two penalty shots for the Buffanblu, who were effective in getting the ball to players in front of the goal. Katie Fletcher and Kelli Moi each added power-play goals.

"I can't take a lot of credit for the goals because my teammates gave me awesome passes and I just wanted to score for them," Price said.

The match was for pride since the Raiders had already clinched the ILH title and No. 1 seed in next week's league tournament.

'Iolani (5-1) will face No. 4 seed Pac-Five and No. 2 Punahou (4-2) will play No. 3. Kamehameha.

If the Raiders win the tournament, they will represent the ILH in the state tournament. If another team wins, it will play the Raiders for the league's lone state berth.

"We would have liked to have won this game," 'Iolani assistant coach Ian Kusao said. "Anytime you play Punahou you want to win. I think we're ready for the tournament. We'll go in seeded first. We'll prepare for that, and just try to win the tournament and go to states."

Punahou's first seven goals either came with a man advantage or on penalty shots.

Price scored power-play goals at 5:19 of the first and 4:05 of the third. Fletcher scored at 2:55 of second, and Moi scored about 90 seconds later.

Fuller converted a penalty shot midway through the first quarter and Price made one late in the first and with 3:27 left in the match.

"They were really aggressive, they got the ball to their center and took advantage of that opportunity. They played a good game," Kusao said.

The Raiders got within 6-4 on a goal by Lea Masatsugu with 2:04 left in the third, but only managed one goal on seven shots in the fourth against goalie Kim Hall.

"She's a senior. She's used to these kinds of games," Smith said of Hall. "I think she rose up and played really well. 'Iolani can attack you a lot of different ways. They can attack you with their speed, with their fast break, and they have really solid outside shooters."

Elyse Shimomura scored two goals to lead 'Iolani.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.