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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 9:44 p.m., Friday, February 8, 2008

Kapaa, Mid-Pacific in state D-II soccer final

By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer

WAIPAHU — Kapa'a's Dylan James and Ikaika Fuerte each scored in the first 11 minutes of this afternoon's 2-1 semifinal win over top-seed Honoka'a to lift the Warriors into tomorrow's inaugural JN Automotive Group/HHSAA Boys Division II Soccer State Championship final at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex.

Kapa'a, the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion, improved to 8-1-1 and will meet Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, Mid-Pacific, in the 6 p.m. title game at the park's main stadium. Honoka'a, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, fell to 12-5.

"This is what we've worked for," said Kapa'a coach Kevin Cram. "We had pretty much the same group coming back (from last season), so our goal was to get to this point. Anything short, we would have been disappointed, because we know we have the ability to do it."

James, a senior forward, opened the scoring in the second minute.

"I brought it from the left side and into the middle," said James. "The sweeper mis-kicked it and it rolled right in front of me and just kicked it in the right corner."

In the 11th minute, James assisted on the Warriors' second goal by Fuerte, a junior midfielder.

Honoka'a beat Kaua'i, 7-6, in penalty kicks earlier this morning, in a game that began Thursday, but was suspended due to inclement weather and field conditions.

MID-PACIFIC 1, KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I 0

Rex Meier scored in the 58th minute to lead No. 2 Mid-Pacific to a 1-0 win over Kamehameha-Hawai'i in this afternoon's other semifinal.

The Owls improved to 7-6-1 and advanced to tonight's championship game. The Warriors dropped to 15-3.

"It was our goal this season to get there," said MPI coach Marc Miranda.

"After last season, we thought we had all the pieces to get here and then the opportunity arose with the Division II slot and we jumped on it."

Meier, a 4-foot-10 sophomore forward, put away the right-footed shot to the right side of the net.

Marc Miranda is the son of Honoka'a head coach, Maurice Miranda.

"We kind of wanted to play my dad's team," said Marc Miranda. "But Kapa'a will be a good game, I think they've got one of the best players in the state in Chance Bukoski."

Bukoski, a senior midfielder, was named to The Advertiser's All-State First Team as a junior.

Division II

Consolation

Kaua'i 1, Kahuku 0

Goal—Kaua'i: Josiah Motosue, 16th minute.

Seabury Hall 2, Hawai'i Prep 1

Goals—Sea: Jacob Sandoval, 33rd minute; Kevan Blunt, 75th minute. HP: Korey Tsubota, 2nd minute.

Semifinals

Kapa'a 2, Honoka'a, 1

Goals—Kap: Dylan James, 2nd minute; Ikaika Fuerte, 11th minute. Hon: Rogelio Maltezo, 64th minute.

Mid-Pacific 1, KS-Hawaii 0

Goal—MPI: Rex Meier, 58th minute.

Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.