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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 31, 2008

Mililani KOs King Kekaulike, 3-0

Photo galleryPhoto gallery: HHSAA State Girls Soccer Division I Tournament

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Mililani's Ashley Kaneshiro Quitog scores despite a diving attempt by King Kekaulike goalie Melanie Dickson.

JOAQUIN SIOPACK | The Honolulu Advertiser

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After a dominating first half that didn't produce a goal, the Mililani girls soccer team was finally able to capitalize on its numerous chances in the second.

Mililani defeated King Kekaulike, 3-0, in the first round of the JN Automotive Group/HHSAA Girls Soccer Division I State Championships yesterday at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Park.

Trojans sophomore defender Chelsey Miyake, junior midfielder Ashley Kaneshiro Quitog and a Na Ali'i own goal lifted Mililani (12-4) to the quarterfinals, where it will play fourth-seeded Konawaena (12-2) today at 5 p.m. King Kekaulike (11-2-2) will play Kapolei in a consolation bracket game today at 1 p.m.

"It's kind of frustrating, but I knew we were going to get one in," Miyake said of being unable to score in the first half.

Miyake broke through on a header off a corner kick from the right side by junior midfielder Isabel Romero in the 49th minute.

"It felt really good," Miyake said. "I always try to do that and it was the first time I did."

She said the goal was important because "we were really nervous, but after that we stayed composed, and we ended up scoring more goals."

Quitog scored in the 71st minute after junior forward Ashlee Fronda drove to the right endline and sent a diagonal pass back to the goal. Junior midfielder Chelsey Goo shot but the ball was blocked, and Quitog put away the rebound.

The Trojans kept the pressure on, and it resulted in a King Kekaulike own goal in the 74th minute, when a long shot from near the top of the 18-yard box by Fronda deflected of a defender and was slowed but not stopped by junior goalkeeper Melanie Dickson.

"Our pregame warm-up was symbolic of our first half," Mililani coach Ray Akiona said of his team's slow start. "We couldn't get our timing down. Once we got into rhythm in the second half, it got better."

In the first half, Mililani dominated but couldn't penetrate, with every shot being stopped by Dickson, in much the same way she did last year to help King Kekaulike reach the semifinals.

"She dominated," said Mililani goalkeeper Joleen Realin, who also plays for the Trojans' basketball team and plans to play in tonight's basketball game against Pearl City after the soccer quarterfinal. "I give her props for making all those great saves."

Realin was confident her teammates would score, especially with all the chances they created.

"They did a good job," she said. "They finally finished (the play with a goal). It took about 20 shots, but that's all right."

OTHER GAMES

Kaiser 1, Kapolei 0: Senior forward Rachel Tomita scored in the 37th minute as the Cougars (10-4-2) advanced to play top-seeded Kamehameha (10-2) today in a quarterfinal at 3 p.m.

Moanalua 3, Kealakehe 0: Freshmen accounted for all the scoring for Na Menehune (11-5-1), who will play second-seeded Pearl City (14-0-1) in an all-OIA quarterfinal at 7 tonight.

Forward Tiana Fujimoto scored in the 28th and 52nd minutes, and midfielder/forward Alex Jones scored in the 64th minute.

Punahou 3, Kalani 0: Junior midfielder Aisha Price, freshman forward Briana Afoa and senior forward Erin Rementer scored for the Buffanblu (10-1-2), who play third-seeded Kamehameha-Maui (13-1) today in a quarterfinal at 1 p.m.

DIVISION I

TODAY'S GAMES

AT WAIPI'O PENINSULA SOCCER PARK

QUARTERFINALS

AT MAIN STADIUM

Kamehameha-Maui vs. Punahou, 1 p.m.

Kamehameha vs. Kaiser, 3 p.m.

Konawaena vs. Mililani, 5 p.m.

Pearl City vs. Moanalua, 7 p.m.

CONSOLATION BRACKET

Both games at 1 p.m.

KAPOLEI VS. KING KEKAULIKE, FIELD 7

Kealakehe vs. Kalani, field 8

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.