Graham’s goal lifts Moanalua into OIA soccer semis

Needing to make a split-second decision, Haley Graham took a chance — and scored the winning goal.

Graham took a pass from Hoku Afong and shot past an oncoming defender. Her shot brushed off the goalkeeper’s hands and bounced into the goal in the 63rd minute to lift Moanalua to a 1-0 win over Aiea in a quarterfinal match of the OIA girls soccer tournament at Kahuku.

"I didn’t know if I should shoot or touch it again, because I saw her (the defender) coming," Graham said. "I just wanted to take a chance on it.

"I knew if I took another touch, the goalie would come out. I just had to take my chance in shooting. I knew I had to get rid of it soon."

Moanalua (9-2-1), the No. 3 seed out of the East, advances to Thursday’s 7 p.m. semifinal vs. Kahuku at Castle. All four of Tuesday’s quarterfinal winners earned a state tournament berth.

Aiea (7-2-2), the No. 2 seed out of the West, moves into the consolation round.

Afong passed over a defender to get the ball to Graham, who was running down the left sideline. Afong, a senior captain who led the team with 14 goals in the regular season, can provide scoring opportunities for Na Menehune with her ball movement.

"Hoku in the middle, it helps us a lot to move the ball and get good movement," Graham said. "It moves us through."

Graham’s goal gave Na Menehune a boost. Neither team had an offensive flow in the first half.

"I think it lifted us up as a team," Graham said. "We had a small lead, it just motivated us more. We pulled it together after. After the goal, it really picked us up."

Aiea pushed forward in the game’s closing minutes, where the ball was played in Aiea’s half of the field in the final six minutes. Na Menehune moved all but one player up on defense in the final stretch.

"It was hectic," said Moanalua defender Dior Motas. "We were running all over the place trying to get it out."

Na Alii’s best scoring opportunity came in the 89th, but Jordan Hill’s shot went over the goal. Hill’s shot in the 81st went wide of the goal. Moanalua also held Sara Olanda, who had 14 goals in the regular season, scoreless.

"We had to man mark, make sure we were watching each other," Motas said. "We had support coming from other people."

Kahuku 1, Pearl City 0

Kamaile Aluli headed in Pikake Hix’s corner kick in the 74th minute as host Kahuku beat Pearl City in a quarterfinal game. The Red Raiders (9-0-2), the top seed out of the East, will play Moanalua in Thursday’s semifinals.

"We practice corner kicks a lot and for our defense to keep working and keep pushing to get it to the corners," Hix said. "We really wanted to push and that last couple of minutes. We really wanted it. It was really a team effort."

Freshman goalkeeper Haley Abregano made a big save for Kahuku shortly after Aluli’s goal. It secured the win and a state tournament berth.

"I’m so grateful for my team," Hix said. "It’s my last year and this is the funnest year ever. Everyone is coming forward for the seniors. Last year we got booted out in the first round (of the OIA playoffs), the year before that we got booted out in the first round."

Pearl City (8-3-1), the fourth seed out of the West, moves into the consolation round.

Mililani 3, Kapolei 0

Tia Furuta, Jayna Morikawa, and Kayle Braunthal scored one goal a piece as the host Trojans shut out the Hurricanes in the quarterfinal round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs.

Mililani faces Campbell at Castle at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Campbell 4, Kaiser 3

Noelle Mercado scored two goals to help lift the Sabers past the Cougars at Mililani.

Campbell advanced to play top-seeded Mililani.