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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 10:04 p.m., Friday, February 16, 2007

Punahou boys reach state soccer title match

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

One night after needing extra time to win, the Punahou scored in double digits to advance to the state finals for the second year in a row.

Senior Bennett Pang scored four goals for the defending state champion Buffanblu (14-1-1) as they defeated Roosevelt, 10-1, in the semifinals of the Meadow Gold Dairies/HHSAA Boys Soccer State Championships Friday night at the Waipi'o Peninsula SoccerStadium.

"We knew we had to come out strong," Pang said. "We couldn't leave it to the end like last game (a 2-1 overtime win over Kamehameha-Maui)."

Punahou (14-1-1) advances to play Kalani tonight at 8 p.m. for the state title.

Junior defender Chris Walker started the scoring on a free kick inside the 18-yard box on a left-footed blast past the Roosevelt defense, which had formed a wall of players on the goal line in the sixth minute.

Senior midfielder Micah Keaney scored after a low driven corner kick from the right side by Troy Yasuda crossed all the way through the 18-yard box to Keaney, who was waiting on the far side. Keaney redirected his shot back to the right corner in the 11th minute.

Senior forward Nick Love scored the third goal for the Buffanblu after dribbling into the 18-yard box and shooting into the lower right corner in the 21st minute.

Pang scored his first off a cross from junior Christopher Chang from the right side in the 35th minute.

Pang scored his second on an assist from Caton Smith, who kept running after a cleared ball from Alessi Sia stayed in play while the Roosevelt defense watched. Smith dribbled to the left post, where he passed to Pang who was running down the right post in the 42nd minute.

Pang scored his third after a 40-yard run on a throw in from behind the halfline in the 53rd minute.

Yasuda scored on an assist from Pang, who dribbled down the field and passed to Yasuda who was running on his right in the 67th minute.

Pang scored his fourth goal a minute later on a curling shot into the goal from the right side of the 18-yard box.

Yasuda scored again after controlling a pass and popping the ball over the goalkeeper's head in the 73rd minute.

Sophomore midfielder Kevin Johns scored Punahou's 10th goal on corner kick by Yasuda in the 78th minute.

Roosevelt (11-3-2) sophomore Ryan Pena scored on a shot from beyond the 18-yard box over the Punahou goalkeeper's head in the 51st minute.