‘Iolani uses the wind to blow past Punahou

‘Iolani’s offense doesn’t need any help, but it will sure take it.

The Raiders’ girls soccer team scored five straight goals, four of them with a brisk wind of up to 19 mph at its back, to rally back and beat Punahou 5-2 at home on Wednesday. ‘Iolani, the state runner-up to Kamehameha last year, is not used to trailing, but had no doubt that it was up to the task after switching sides.

"I think this is probably one of our most exciting games since I have been coach," Iolani coach Kristin Masunaga said. "Down 2-0 early in the game, I knew we were going to come back. I didn’t know we were going to score five goals, though."

The Buffanblu took advantage of the conditions to take a 2-0 lead after only 23 minutes. Punahou scored its first goal, and the first surrendered by ‘Iolani this year, in the seventh minute when senior captain Dempsey Banks headed one in on Punahou’s first corner kick. The Buffanblu ran the margin to two in the 23rd minute, when Kylie Chun drilled a shot that ‘Iolani sophomore goalkeeper Courtney Overland blocked but failed to hold onto. The Raiders’ defense cleared it, but the attempt thumped the referee in the middle of the chest in front of the goal. The ball deflected off the official and straight to Chun, whose next shot was true.

‘Iolani responded five minutes later, working the ball against the wind and earning a free kick from just outside the box. Defender Taylor Kipilii skimmed a ground ball to the middle of the box, where Kama Pascua executed a baseball slide and directed the ball into the goal. It was the only goal scored by either team into the wind.

"I think the wind was a big factor today and that is something we considered," Masunaga said. "We went against the wind in the first half, knowing we would be on our heels a little bit. It’s not normally this windy, we aren’t used to this."

The Raiders got used to it in short order, scoring 16 minutes after the break when Alyssa Kim won a ball in the middle of the field and threaded a pass to the corner to Pascua. Pascua centered it to Nikki Mitsuyasu without hesitating and the junior beat the keeper high with a one-timer to tie it.

"Me and Kama Pascua have a little connection," said Mitsuyasu, who scored twice. "A little chemistry. Both times I scored the same way, a run straight up the field and I saw Kama going end line and ready to cross it and I knew that it was my moment and my time to finish it."

The Raiders took the lead 3-2 when Pikake Kaneshiro pounded a goal in from the top of the box after a scrum in the 77th minute.

The Buffanblu fought back, with Jensen Toner beating a triple-team, but she was rebuffed by Overland.

After that, at the other end, Pascua got into the corner one more time, where she threaded an assist to Mitsuyasu.

"The goals we have scored are beautiful, beautiful goals," Masunaga said. "Normally we miss a lot of those opportunities, but they realize the importance and have a little bit more discipline, not trying to kick the ball as hard as they can and placing it instead. I’ve had this senior class for four years and they are getting it. It’s clicking."

Pascua closed out the scoring when she collided with Punahou keeper Noelani Kong-Johnson and earned a penalty kick. Pascua beat Kong-Johnson to the right and the teams played the final five minutes without scoring.

‘Iolani (3-0) will take its undefeated season to Mid-Pacific on Saturday, while Punahou (2-1) plays Pac-Five next Wednesday. ‘Iolani visits Punahou on Jan. 9 in a game that will probably have a lot more at stake. The ILH only gets two teams into the state tournament, Punahou sat out last year for the first time since 2007, when the ILH only got one berth.

"It was two very good teams who were clearly pumped up for the game," Punahou coach Starr Johnson said. "It’s early in the season and we look forward to the rematch."