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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, February 11, 2007

Pac-Five captures inaugural D-II crown

Girls soccer D-II finals photo gallery
 •  Kamehameha wins D-I title

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Pac-Five goalkeeper Brittney Hutchins smothers a shot by Mid-Pacific's Miya Quinn during the penalty-kick phase.

Photos by JOAQUIN SIOPACK | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Pac-Five's Ashley Medcalf, left, and Mid-Pacific's Shannon Rosenberg go head-to-head in a battle for possession in the first half.

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Familiar foes Pac-Five and Mid-Pacific played to penalty kicks last night, with Pac-Five winning 3-0 to claim the inaugural Division II state soccer girls championship.

In their third meeting this season, the Wolfpack defeated the Owls, 2-1, in the Meadow Gold Dairies/HHSAA Girls Division II State Soccer Championships at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

"It means a lot, especially because we used to get drilled by teams like Punahou and Kamehameha," said Pac-Five senior goalkeeper Brittney Hutchins, whose team finished 6-5-2. "I feel so proud we made it here."

Pac-Five freshman Samantha Hyde, sophomore Christine Tamamoto and freshman Joanna Lawlor made their kicks, and Hutchins made one stop for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champs.

"The whole time, I was like, 'I gotta get the ball, I gotta get the ball,' " said Hutchins, who plays on the field part time and had an assist in Friday's semifinal. "When it went into my hand (on my save), I was so happy."

Pac-Five coach Eddie Wong said he wasn't surprised the two rivals needed extra time to decide the winner.

"Considering Mid-Pacific, the way they play, we expected a hard game and it showed," he said.

Mid-Pacific coach Dave Pai, whose team finished 6-8-1, concurred. "They are a very good team," he said. "I wasn't surprised. We were running on emotion."

It was Mid-Pacific's third straight overtime game and fifth game in eight days.

Pac-Five defender Lawlor scored four minutes into the start of the second half. A corner kick by senior forward Janelle Toner was punched out by Mid-Pacific goalkeeper Ashley Park and sailed to Cassie Anduha, who tried to head it toward the goal to keep it in play. But the ball traveled back to Lawlor, who blasted a 25-yard volley into the upper portion of the goal.

"I was just trying to drive it," Lawlor said. "I heard everyone screaming, that's how I knew it went in."

Five minutes before the end of regulation, freshman midfielder Paige Young scored to tie the game. After a mad scramble in the 18-yard box with Pac-Five trying to clear it out but failing, Young put it away on a slow roller into the right side of the goal.

"I thought it was an awesome effort," Pai said. "The girls responded great to giving up a goal."

Pac-Five was on the attack for most of the first half, but the Owls had their chances, highlighted by a breakaway by freshman forward Sahara Searle eight minutes before the end of the half. Pac-Five had two first-half shots to one by Mid-Pacific.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.