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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Mililani boys in control of Red West

Photo gallery: Prep soccer

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Mililani boys soccer team scored two first-half goals and added an insurance score in the second half to beat Pearl City, 3-0, last night in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West game at Mililani.

Mililani (7-1-1) retained its lead in the Red West with 22 points. Kapolei (6-3-1) defeated Nanakuli, 7-0, last night to move past Pearl City (5-3-1) for second place with 19 points.

The top two teams in the Red West and Red East receive first-round byes in the OIA Tournament, which begins Jan. 27 for the boys.

Last night, the Trojans struck early — scoring in the second minute on a goal by senior forward Jonathan Fukumoto on a cross by senior midfielder Aaron Yokoyama. A Pearl City player kicked Fukumoto's shot in, advancing a ball that was already headed into the goal.

"It helps ... whenever you get that early goal the other team is under pressure," Mililani coach Jeff Yamamoto said.

Minutes later, the Chargers threatened when Mililani needed to clear a Pearl City shot off the goalline following a corner kick.

Instead, it was the Trojans who would score on a corner kick, when senior defender Westin Alcover headed in a kick from senior defender Philip Sakaba in the 27th minute.

The Trojans completed the scoring in the 56th minute on a goal by Yokoyama after senior midfielder Cory Nakagawa floated a ball from the left side into the 18-yard box, just past a Pearl City defender. Yokoyama ran on to the ball and finished with a right-footed blast into the left side of the goal.

"We just wanted to secure the win," said Yokoyama, who scored his league-leading ninth goal. "It was a good ball and the Pearl City player misjudged it."

The three-goal lead allowed Yamamoto to play some of his lesser-used players. Without a junior varsity program, Yamamoto keeps 30 players on the roster.

"We're trying to get as many players in, even against the tougher teams," Yamamoto said. "We're trying to get them some exposure. And Pearl City is a good team, so this was good."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.