honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, February 17, 2007

Pang scores four goals to propel Buffanblu past Roosevelt, 10-1

 Photo gallery Boys state soccer semifinals gallery
 •  Goals by Nakama, Kumagai lift Falcons over Leilehua, 2-0

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Punahou's Nick Love, far right, celebrates his first-half goal with teammate Ben Strand as Roosevelt's Keenan Seguancia watches. Love's goal gave the Buffanblu a 3-0 lead.

JOAQUIN SIOPACK | The Honolulu Advertiser

spacer spacer

One night after needing extra time to win, 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 last night at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

"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.

"This is one of the better feelings I've had, especially in an important game like this," Pang said. "This is more than I scored the whole season."

Punahou coach Bob Clague said he was "really worried" about Roosevelt after it upset second-seeded Kapolei, 4-1. "Any team that puts four goals past Kapolei, you have to be wary of."

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.

"Chris Walker's free kick started it off for us," Clague said. "It knocked the wind out of them."

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.

"My teammates were giving me great passes," Pang said. "I was running a lot. I had to ask to get subbed out."

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 a 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.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.

• • •