It was Punahou's turn last night to throw another monkey wrench into the Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls soccer title chase, as the Buffanblu stunned Kamehameha, 3-1, at the Warriors' Kunuiakea Stadium.

Punahou improved to 8-1-1 (25 championship points) in league play, setting up a huge road showdown with arch rival 'Iolani (8-1-1) at 4:15 p.m. Friday.

Defending state champion Kamehameha fell to 8-2 (24 points) after its second straight loss. The Warriors were shut out by 'Iolani, 3-0, last Friday.

"This is like a building block for us," said Punahou freshman Lahaina Zoller, who scored two goals last night. "We have to take it as a team to motivate us for the next game."

As 'Iolani did last week, the Buffanblu jumped on the Warriors early and did not really let up.

They struck first in the 24th minute, when Bri Afoa drilled a shot into the middle of the net immediately after Kamehameha keeper Kanani Taaca had blocked two shots in front of the goal.

Zoller made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute, after Aisha Price's 30-yard throw-in from the right sideline sailed over a group of players at the near post and bounced to Zoller, who was all alone near the back post. Zoller's header dribbled into the right corner of the net.

"When we practice (throw-ins), she can throw it that far, so I was confident it could get to me," Zoller said.

The 2-0 lead held until halftime and for most of the second half, until the Warriors made it interesting in the 76th minute.

Sanoe Souza drilled a liner straight at the center of the goal from about 30 yards out, but keeper Alana Munger deflected it over the goal at the last minute, giving Kamehameha a corner kick.

After a scramble at the near post, Souza got the ball again and lined a shot toward the back post, where it ricocheted off a Punahou defender and into the net.

"I really gotta give our girls credit," Warriors coach Michele Nagamine said. "They showed character being down 2-0 and created more than enough opportunities. To score a goal in the last five minutes when you're down 2-0, that showed a lot."

Kamehameha tried to press on for a game-tying goal, but the Buffanblu kept up their own offensive pressure and Price got another throw-in opportunity from the right sideline in the 79th minute, about 20 yards from the end line.

Her throw-in was eventually cleared, but Price sent another ball back to Zoller, who suddenly was all alone on the left side.

She squared, and shot into the right side of the net to make it 3-1.

"There were some momentum swings and complex changes in this game," said Punahou first-year coach Matt Martinson. "We did it as a team and won as a team. But we can't rest yet.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.