Bounced early from the state tournament last year on penalty kicks, the Kamehameha boys soccer team encountered the same situation twice last week.

This time though, the Warriors prevailed in them to capture the state title.

"It meant a lot because last year we were out in the quarterfinals in a hard loss," Kamehameha senior Micah Swain said of last year's loss to Leilehua on penalty kicks. The Warriors eventually finished tied for fifth. "Just being able to bounce back and take the state championship, it meant a lot to me."

Swain, who was named the tournament's most valuable goalkeeper, helped unseeded Kamehameha advance in penalty-kick wins over second-seeded Kamehameha-Maui in Friday's semifinals and top-seeded 'Iolani in Saturday's championship game. Both games went to penalty kicks after two scoreless overtime periods.

"Friday, I was pretty nervous," Swain said. "I wanted it to be over in overtime. After that first kick and getting into it, it made it more on them (his teammates) than me.

"They had more pressure to make that shot. If I could get the block, that's good. It took a lot of pressure off of me."

Swain said Friday's win "made it a lot easier to be in that situation again" on Saturday. Swain blocked one 'Iolani shot in penalty kicks and Kainoa Kahui, Zane Dydasco, Gareth Gomez and Ryan Ho made their kicks as the Warriors outshot the Raiders, 4-2. Kamehameha finished the year 11-2-2.

"During the season we tied them ('Iolani) both times," Swain said. "To finally be able to come out on top in the state championship, it was unbelievable."

Kamehameha coach Andrew Ah New said Swain has stepped up at the right time, especially since he's been playing with an injured wrist since the second to last regular season game.

"He's surprisingly come up big at the right time," Ah New said. "He's probably not going to be named an all-star. He comes up big when he needs to."

Swain said the injury was just something he had to fight through.

"When I got into the game, I never thought about it," Swain said. "It never seemed to be a problem during the game."

Now he hopes for a second state team title this year in track and field. The Warriors finished second last year and Swain tied for fifth in the pole vault.

CORRECTION

Mid-Pacific senior Marc Obando made the game-winning shot in penalty kicks for the Owls in Saturday's Division II boys soccer Championship.

His name and grade level were incorrect.

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.