Soccer usually isn't the sport of choice for most boys growing up in Kahuku.

But the sport is growing in popularity and it showed yesterday against Farrington.

Noble Crowell scored in the 42nd minute as Kahuku beat Farrington, 1-0, in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Boys White Conference soccer final yesterday at Mililani.

It was the first OIA boys soccer title for Kahuku, a traditional powerhouse in football.

"The boys did well. They really got together, played hard the whole season and they knew they could do something in this division," said Kahuku coach Richard Oei. "So it's just a matter of time before we got the team that could do it."

Crowell scored off a throw-in from the left side from Matthew Gomez. The ball landed at the feet of Crowell near the 6-yard box and he kicked it in.

"Matt Gomez gave a nice throw-in right over the Farrington defenders," said Crowell, a senior. "It came right in front of me so I just trapped it, turned it and I kicked it in."

Kahuku, the East champion, didn't allow a goal in the inaugural tournament for Division II teams. It also beat West No. 4 Waipahu and East No. 3 McKinley.

"For the little soccer community that we have it's great," Crowell said. "This is the best team we've ever had."

Oei has coached some of his players since they were youngsters. That wasn't the case in the past.

"It's growing more and more," he said. "I coach youth soccer over on that side and we've been channeling all these players to the high school team."

According to Crowell, "everyone except one or two" on the soccer team didn't play football this season for the Kahuku.

"They became soccer players, not football players (playing soccer)," he said.

Kahuku, Farrington, Kailua and McKinley will represent the OIA at the JN Automotive State Division II Boys State Championships Feb. 6 to 9 at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex.

Kahuku (10-2-1) had nine shots on goal, while East No. 4 Farrington (4-8-1) had just three.

"They're a little more physical," said Farrington coach Jeremy Seitz. "They come from that football background. It's nice to see they can play soccer, too."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.