After waiting half an hour for its game to begin, the Kamehameha boys soccer team made quick work of third-seeded Kealakehe with three first-half goals to return to the semifinals after a two-year absence from the state tournament.

The Warriors won the quarterfinal match, 4-0, in the JN Automotive Group/HHSAA Boys Soccer Division I State Championships last night at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

"We didn't want to go by this day without playing," Kamehameha coach Andrew Ah New said of the 30-minute delay to the start of the game — the earlier game between Kamehameha-Maui and Roosevelt was postponed briefly — due to rain.

Kamehameha (10-2-2) plays second-seeded Kamehameha-Maui (15-0-2) tonight at 6. Fourth-seeded Mililani (14-1-1) and top-seeded 'Iolani (10-1-2) play at 8.

The Warriors scored early on a goal by sophomore midfielder Ryan Ho in the eighth minute.

"Gareth (Gomez) shot a nice shot and luckily it ricocheted and I finished it," Ho said.

He said the Warriors were "psyched. We were ready for it. We wanted to play in the rain already."

Senior forward Kimo Komomua scored in the 24th minute on a header off a corner kick by senior midfielder Zane Dydasco. The ball was first headed by midfielder Sheldon Costa before Komomua put it away.

"It definitely gave us confidence," said Komomua, who said scoring four goals was a welcome change from the Warriors' first-round 1-0 victory over Moanalua.

Ho's second goal, in the 37th minute, came on another assist from Gomez, who sent a left-footed pass into the 18-yard box for Ho to run on to. Ho touched it to his left foot then shot into the far right post.

"We just wanted to score fast and early; sort of break their backs with the lead," Ho said.

Junior midfielder Casey Kusaka scored with about two minutes remaining after a shot off a Warriors free kick deflected off a Kealakehe defender to Kusaka's feet. He finished the play with a low shot to the right corner.

It was the first loss for Kealakehe (15-1-0). Captain Brandon Sawada said a slow first half plagued the Waveriders all season, "but on the Big Island teams aren't as good, so we could get away with it."

Kealakehe played without head coach Urs Leuenberger, who is serving the first year of a two-year suspension due to an incident at last year's state tourney.

"He coached us during the regular season, so we know what to do," Sawada said. "It was up to the players if we were going to go hard or not."

'IOLANI 2, KAISER 0

First-half goals from senior midfielder Eric Fitzmaurice in the 24th minute and sophomore forward Nicholas Goo in the 35th minute lifted the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion into the semifinals. The Cougars fell to 11-6.

KAMEHAMEHA-MAUI 1, ROOSEVELT 0

Junior midfielder Kody Ganiko scored in the sixth minute to propel the Maui Interscholastic League champion into the semifinals for the first time. The Rough Riders fell to 9-7-2.

MILILANI 1, 'AIEA 0

Mililani senior midfielder Ryan Wert scored off a throw-in by Colin Lund from the left side that bounced through the 'Aiea defense almost to the other end of the 6-yard box for Wert, who shot a low ball into the left side of the goal in the 33rd minute.

Mililani, perennial state favorites, failed to qualify for the state tournament last year.

"I wasn't here last year, so I don't know how they handled it," said Wert, who transferred from Leilehua. "We feel good, we feel strong."

Na Alii fell to 8-6-3.

CONSOLATION

BALDWIN 3, WAIAKEA 2

Tommy Barber scored in the fifth and 58th minutes and Micheal Marrs added another in the 12th minute for the Bears (10-2-2). Jonathan Torigeo and Ian Watanabe scored for the Warriors (12-5).

CASTLE 3, MOANALUA 2

Shane Ihara (30th minute), Blayne Muraoka (39th) and Sean Lomont (44th) scored to lift the Knights (10-7) past Na Menehune (7-9-2). Sean Nicholson (55th) and Keenan Lee (62nd) scored for Moanalua.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.