Campbell to meet Moanalua in title game

Freshman Destiny Souza scored seven minutes into overtime to give Campbell a historic 2-1 victory over Mililani in the OIA girls soccer semifinals Thursday night at Castle High.

According to the Sabers coaches, it was probably the first time they’ve ever beaten the Trojans (10-1-1).

The match was in complete contrast to the first time the two teams played this season. On Jan. 9, Mililani overwhelmed visiting Campbell 3-0.

This time, the Sabers (10-2-1) meant business.

"We strategized a lot before this game," Campbell assistant James Curran said. "Yesterday, we had a two- to three-hour chalk talk about how we would defend their high-powered attack. We planned to defend and also not lose sight of our attack like we did the last time we played them."

The Sabers are headed to their first state tournament since 2008 and can win their first OIA title since taking the White division in 2007 Saturday night against Moanalua. Campbell served notice early that it wasn’t going to go down easy by winning most of the 50-50 balls.

Aliani Lorenzo, who was outstanding all night in controlling and distributing the ball, put Campbell in front 1-0 in the eighth minute. She found a soft spot in Mililani’s back row and dribbled toward the goal without shooting until she reached the back line close to the net, where she drilled a cross that bounced in off a Trojans defender.

"(Teammate) Asia (Canon) trapped the ball and I overlapped with her and she let me take the ball and I saw the opening," Lorenzo said. "I dribbled in and thought about passing back to the 18-yard line, but no one was there, so I just kicked it as hard as I could."

Campbell held its ground through halftime and into the second half. Then, in the 67th minute, the Sabers’ Kaimilani Chung, who turned in a huge defensive game, blocked Tia Furuta’s hard attempt, but Furuta got the rebound and delivered a 25-yard shot into the low left corner for a 1-1 tie.

Both teams had excellent chances just before regulation ended. Sabers goalkeeper Kiley Haraguchi made a sprawling stop on Furuta’s breakaway. At the other end, Lorenzo’s smash from the left wing was brushed away by Trojans goalkeeper Andrea Kenagy. Canon’s rebound attempt went high and she walked away shaking her head.

"We stumbled around in the first half," Mililani coach Ray Akiona said. "Campbell came out and set the tone (and took the lead) and it showed good character for us to come back. It’s a good experience for these girls to play in a game like this. It took us a lot longer than normal for us to get it going."

In the evenly-played overtime, Souza, stationed on the left wing, picked up a ball that ricocheted off of midfielder Lauryn Cabudol and booted a 12-yarder into the top right corner for the win.

"I saw the ball coming and I knew it was all or nothing," Souza said. "I shot it and thought it was going too high, but the wind kept it down."

Many of the Trojans, winners of eight OIA titles since 2002, fell to the ground in disbelief. Others were crying well after the handshake line.

"Right from the get-go, they (Campbell) came at us strong," said Mililani’s Kasey Isobe while wiping away tears. "We were expecting to come out stronger. Sometimes things don’t bounce your way and Campbell finished it with a great ball."

The Trojans will play in the third-place game Friday against Kahuku and are looking forward to another state tournament appearance.

Isobe is glad the season is not over, even though the OIA run is done.

"We’ve worked too hard for us to get stopped this early," she said.

Moanalua 2, Kahuku 1

Haley Graham scored one goal and assisted on another to lead Na Menehune (10-2-1) past the previously undefeated Red Raiders in a semifinal game at Castle.

After a scoreless first half, Graham scored from the right wing in the 43rd minute for a 1-0 lead.

Shania Mohika made it 2-0 in the 56th minute by redirecting home a hard cross from Graham.

Kahuku (9-1-2) started a tenacious rally that produced a goal a minute later and lasted until the end of the game. Kamaile Aluli put it in the net with a shot off several players during a scramble in front to cut the gap to 2-1.

Kalani and Waialua will play in Saturday’s Division II final.