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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, December 12, 2009

'Iolani, Punahou girls play to 2-2 tie


By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

The ball gets behind 'Iolani's Twyla Hamasaki, left, and Punahou's Lahaina Zoller in the first half of an ILH soccer match.

REBECCA BREYER | Honolulu Advertiser

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In a scoring summary indicative of the back-and-forth play by both teams, 'Iolani and Punahou tied, 2-2, in Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls soccer action yesterday afternoon at 'Iolani.

"This is probably the highest pressure we've faced in a while," Punahou coach Matt Martinson said. "We were a little jittery at first and I think had to settle our nerves. We started to do that, connect passes, and it gave us a little more confidence."

'Iolani coach Kristin Masunaga was also looking for confidence from her players.

"We know they are fast, so we tried to be reactive instead of beating them to the ball first, which we did in the second half," Masunaga said. "We were happy with the way they adjusted, but we're hoping they can do it themselves on the field instead of waiting after two goals."

Both teams are 2-0-1.

Punahou junior forward Lahaina Zoller scored in the seventh minute off a free kick by junior defender Briana Afoa from behind midfield. Zoller knocked the ball into space, scoring on a left-footed shot.

The Raiders tied it on a header by sophomore defender Amanda McCaskil in the 12th minute off a corner kick by senior midfielder Erin Park.

Zoller, who is right-footed, scored again on another left-footed shot after chasing down a through pass from senior midfielder Karli Look in the 18th minute.

"It's a good thing our coaches push us to practice (with our left feet)," Zoller said. "The defenders are really good and they know I'm right-footed so they pushed me left all the time."

Zoller later broke her shoe and borrowed a pair from forward Allyson Holtz. "The cleats are supposed to be on the bottom of the shoe, but somehow they ended up on the top. Running was kind of slippery."

'Iolani freshman forward Daisy "Kama" Pascua tied it three minutes into the second half after receiving a pass from senior defender Jen Kiyotoki. She dribbled to the endline and fell as she shot.

"Jen sent me a ball and everybody thought it was offsides," Pascua said. "I ran on to it and then I hit it and fell and then it hit the goalie and went in. It was kind of messed up, but it went in, so ..."