Punahou rallies in overtime
Boys state soccer photo gallery |
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Punahou boys soccer team scored two goals in less than two minutes — one to stay alive and the other to pick up the overtime victory over Kamehameha-Maui.
The defending state champion Buffanblu defeated the Warriors, 2-1, on a John Cowen golden goal 1 minute, 25 seconds into the first overtime period in the quarterfinals of the Meadow Gold Dairies/HHSAA Boys State Soccer tournament yesterday at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
Punahou (13-1-1), which needed a Chris Walker penalty kick with no time in regulation to send the game into overtime, plays first-time semifinalist in Roosevelt tonight at 8. Leilehua plays Kalani at 6 in the other semifinal.
All four seeded teams were defeated in yesterday's quarterfinal round: top-seeded Kamehameha, No. 2 Kapolei, No. 3 Kamehameha-Maui and No. 4 Makua Lani Christian.
Cowen, a junior midfielder, scored after a rebound off a Nick Love shot rolled out to him and he shot a low 25-yarder under diving goalkeeper Chawn Villalon.
"It bounced out and it was instinct (to shoot)," Cowen said. "I didn't see the ball go in. I just saw the goalie dive."
Walker's goal sent the game into overtime after Kamehameha-Maui was called for a hand ball in the box. Walker said the referee told him there was no time left on the clock right before he was to take his kick.
"It just kind of added to the pressure," Walker said. "It was kind of nerve-racking."
The Warriors scored on a goal by junior midfielder Kelii Dias in the 60th minute after senior Mitchell Navarro ripped a 25-yard shot from near the left sideline, and Punahou goalkeeper Matthew Yen knocked the ball down. But the ball bounced to Dias, who put it away.
His score came on one of two shots the Warriors took all game.
Punahou coach Bob Clague said it was "our best game of the season. I thought we played very well. I would have been really upset if we lost because of how well we played."
It was first loss for Maui Interscholastic League champion Kamehameha, which fell to 15-1-2. Warriors coach Jayson Nakasone called the defeat "heartbreaking."
"We could have played better," Nakasone said. "They were coming at us full pressure."
QUARTERFINALS
LEILEHUA 1, KAMEHAMEHA 0
Leilehua defeated Kamehameha on penalty kicks, 3-1.
Leilehua seniors Syd Tom, Bryant Moniz and Jacob Sego made their shots and goalkeeper Nick Popa made two saves, with another hitting the post.
"It was a big game for me," Popa said. "I did OK. It just went my way.
"Everybody on the team did a lot, too, even if they didn't play."
The game was scoreless through 80 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods.
Junior Kimo Komomua made his shot for the Warriors.
Kamehameha had an 18-9 shot advantage, but Popa stopped five shots and "came up huge," Leilehua head coach Carl Friedl said. Kamehameha goalkeeper Micah Swain recorded three saves.
ROOSEVELT 4, KAPOLEI 1
Roosevelt upset second-seeded Kapolei, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion, behind two goals by sophomore Ryan Pena to advance to the semifinals for the first time.
Pena scored in the 27th and 55th minutes, Alex Fowler scored in the 47th minute and Carle Oda in the 73rd as the Rough Riders jumped ahead 4-0.
Kapolei's Kainoa Bryant scored in the 77th minute.
"They were a second seed and I think we caught them off guard," Pena said. "I'm happy. We're on a good roll right now."
Kapolei outshot Roosevelt 26-9.
KALANI 1, MAKUA LANI CHRISTIAN 0
Senior midfielder Kenn Kamoto scored in the 26th minute on an assist from senior forward Carter Kam as the Falcons advanced to the semifinals.
CONSOLATION
KEALAKEHE 5, KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I 0
The Waveriders received goals from five different players: Micah Miranda (10th minute), Josh Boranian (31st), Kiah Gilbert (58th), Max Simon (66th) and Stanceford Kaina (79th).
Kealakehe coach Urs Leuenberger and assistant Miles Nakahara were suspended for verbally and physically confronting several HHSAA tournament officials on multiple occasions regarding the pairings, HHSAA said.
Leuenberger was suspended for not controlling Nakahara, who committed the infractions.
KAPA'A 2, KALAHEO 1
Ikaika Fuerte scored in the 44th minute and Tyler Angelder in the 71st for the Warriors.
Tino Smiley scored in the 54th minute for Kalaheo.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.