Punahou defends title
• Photo gallery: HHSSA Girls Soccer Division I Championship
The streak lives on for the Punahou girls soccer team, thanks to a freshman who came through at the end last night against ‘Iolani.
Dani Stollar scored in the 79th minute as No. 1-seeded Punahou beat league rival ‘Iolani 2-1 for its third consecutive JN Automotive/HHSAA Division I State Championships title.
"Like Coach said, just keep bringing it," Stollar said. "It wasn’t me, it was the whole team."
The match between Interscholastic League of Honolulu rivals was watched by 2,235 at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
On the winning goal, Stollar took a pass from the right side and her shot from just in front deflected off a Raiders defender and into the net.
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"She’s been showing up big all season," Punahou coach Matt Martinson said. "We really knew we needed her on the field. For her to show that kind of composure as a freshman is amazing."
On the three-peat, Martinson said: "I don’t think of the past ones. Every one is different. We knew ‘Iolani was going to give us the game of our lives. We had to play the game of our lives."
Punahou, the ILH champion, tied it at 1 in the 56th minute on Lahaina Zoller’s goal. The Buffanblu took a corner kick from the left side and the ball bounced off a couple of players in the box. A Punahou player took a shot that deflected off a Raiders defender and toward goal, and Zoller was there to touch it in just as the ball was about to cross the goal line on the left side.
Raiders goalkeeper Lexi Felix was injured on the play and was replaced by Megan Kubota.
‘Iolani, the ILH runner-up, scored in the 32nd on a header by Krystal Pascua that was ruled to have just crossed the goal line. The officials conferred after the play and ruled it a goal.
The score was set up on an ‘Iolani corner kick from the right side. The ball bounced to Pascua, who headed the ball down and toward goal. The ball had just crossed the goal line and was quickly cleared by a Punahou defender.
Video replays on Oceanic 16 were inconclusive.
"We knew when we were down we were going to get it done," Stollar said. "This team has a lot of heart."
The teams split a pair of matches during the ILH regular season.
Division I
Third Place
Kahuku 2, Mililani1
Sophomore forward Renee Oei scored the game-winner in the 60th minute to lift the Red Raiders (10-7-3) past the No. 2-seeded Trojans (14-2-2).
Kahuku senior forward Fonoimoana Mataafa scored in the second minute and Mililani sophomore T.J. Reyno answered in the 23rd minute as the two OIA schools played to a 1-1 first-half standoff.
Fifth Place
Baldwin 0, Kamehameha-Maui 0, tie
Maui’s two entries in the state tournament played to a scoreless draw. The third-seeded Bears, champions of the MIL, finished their season 16-1-2, while the Warriors ended their season 16-2-2.
Consolation
Moanalua 3, Kapolei 2
Kara-Li Hara and Keli Kuikahi scored as Na Menehune (15-2-2) clinched consolation honors. Kaili Bonn and Jenna Tomei scored for the Hurricanes (10-5-3).
Division II
Third Place
Hawaii Prep 2, KS-Hawaii 0
Freshman forward Nanea Tavares scored in the first half and sophomore midfielder Emily Evans in the second half as Ka Makani shut out the Warriors in a matchup of BIIF foes.
Hawaii Prep finished its season 11-3-1, Kamehameha-Hawaii 10-4-4.
Fifth Place
Honokaa 1, Seabury Hall 1, tie
Freshman midfielder Allie Shiraki scored in the 52nd minute to tie the game and give the Dragons of the BIIF a draw with the MIL-champion Spartans.
Freshman midfielder Elle Carvalho gave Seabury Hall the lead in the 40th minute. Honokaa finished its season 8-6-3, the Spartans 9-8-2.
Consolation
Kalaheo 3, Radford 0
Jordyn Rey, Sara McAllaster and Rachel Peck scored as the Mustangs clinched consolation honors with a victory over the Rams.
Kalaheo finished its season 10-2-3, Radford 8-5-3.