In a strange twist, the home team decided not to take home-field advantage, instead playing at a neutral site better suited for its style of play.

Host Punahou defeated Kamehameha, 4-0, yesterday in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys soccer match at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Park in Waipahu.

Senior forwards Sean Hungerford and Matthew Walker, sophomore midfielder Alex Lam and junior forward Colin Williams scored for the Buffanblu (3-0-0).

Punahou chose to play its matches in Waipahu this season instead of the narrower confines of its home field, which, like many high school soccer fields on O'ahu, fit inside a track. All but a couple of Punahou's "home" games will be played there.

"We were able to spread them out a little bit, and when we're able to spread it out then we're able to keep possession and keep the ball on the ground," said Punahou coach David Trifonovitch, who estimated the width of Punahou's field is 65 yards, compared to "at least 75" at the Waipi'o complex.

"And then we can utilize our speed. When we're on a small field everyone is on you and you have no place to run. Here we can use our speed and get behind people and get behind them on defense and lay balls across."

Hungerford scored on a header on an assist from junior midfielder Scott Granger off a quick restart on a free kick to make it 1-0 in the eighth minute. Granger collected the ball down the right sideline and dribbled to the endline before crossing a ball to the near post for Hungerford.

"We wanted to play the ball out wide because we had speed, Scotty Granger and Alex Lam, on the outside, so we decided to play it outside and hope the forwards could get it inside the 6-yard box," Hungerford said. "Back at Punahou we play on a tighter field so we have to play more to feet inside the box."

Walker scored in the 56th minute after teammate Mountain Mitchell challenged a Kamehameha clear and the ball bounced to Walker, who shot into the right side of the goal.

Two minutes later, Mitchell set up another goal, blocking another Kamehameha clear with his head. The ball bounced across the face of the goal to Lam, who finished the play.

Williams scored in the 67th minute on an assist from Walker, who sent a long through ball up the middle of the Warriors' defense. Williams sprinted free for the one-on-one with the Kamehameha goalkeeper.

"They looked like they are a better team, with better control," said Kamehameha coach Andrew Ah New, whose team fell to 1-2-0. "The size of the field makes a difference. The smaller field, the less advantage the better team has. They took advantage of this field. Their passing and receiving are excellent. They ran a lot, on and off the ball, they played quick, they kept coming at us and they wore us down."