‘Iolani senior Daisy "Kama" Pascua said she and her Raiders teammates were out to make a statement. This year was going to be theirs.

But first, they’d have to get through the regular season.

Every pregame routine went like this: Pascua and her teammates circled up to share their team goals and their own personal goals for the day. Pascua’s goals for her final regular-season game against Interscholastic League of Honolulu rival and reigning state champion Kamehameha on Saturday were simple.

"I’m going to connect with every single pass and finish every opportunity," Pascua said.

Accomplishing those goals would lead her to a bigger goal. After three previous trips to the state tournament and coming up short there, this was her last chance to win the ILH and have a chance at a state title.

Each year, the Raiders entered the tourney as the ILH runners-up. In 2010, they were eliminated in the first round, and in the past two years, they made it to the final, eventually losing out to rivals, Punahou in 2011 and Kamehameha in ’12).

The Raiders had to win Saturday’s game to secure their spot in this year’s state tournament.

Pascua accomplished her first goal — the Raiders dominated the Warriors — and seemed to be in position to accomplish the second.

The Raiders were up 1-0 on a goal from fellow senior Taylor Kipilii when Pascua was tripped inside the box, giving her a penalty kick.

She set up just like she’s practiced, waited for the whistle and took the shot.

"I was just thinking, ‘OK, this is it. We’re sure to keep the game in our favor,’ " she said.

But her kick soared well over the crossbar.

"I just felt so mad because I usually make those every single time," she said.

‘Iolani coach Kristin Masunaga had no doubt that Pascua would bounce back.

"I knew she’d come back from that and score. I knew that it would make her want to score more," Masunaga said. "And she did."

In the second half, ‘Iolani went up 2-0 on a goal from Ashley Park-Hunt. Then it was Pascua’s turn. When Alyssa Kim broke away and headed downfield, Pascua knew a pass was coming.

"I kind of sensed it," Pascua said. "I saw her going and I thought, ‘This is it.’ "

With Kim at center, Pascua went left, putting herself in position for a goal that solidified the 3-0 win for the Raiders (10-1-1) and stamped her place atop the ILH as the leading scorer with 18 goals.

That accomplishment was Masunaga’s goal for Pascua for the season. That was the main reason for playing Pascua primarily as a forward this year.

"I expected her to be the leading scorer of the ILH," Masunaga said. "She has met my expectations. What I’d really like now is to see her continue this throughout states. I expect her to keep making that significant impact in every game."

Pascua expects to. She’s prepared herself all year for it.

"Our first year in the tournament was a really good feeling because we got there," she said. "It was a huge accomplishment because it had been years since ‘Iolani made it. But we were eliminated so early. The second time, we made it all the way, then we lost to Punahou. It was really devastating. It gave us more motivation for the next year."

The Raiders fought their way back to the final against Kamehameha, and Pascua thought they were finally going to win.

"We worked our butts off to get there. We were dominating, but none of our shots were going in," she said. "It was the worst feeling ever. We lost to our two rivals. We definitely do not want that to happen this year."

She said to prepare for the season, the Raiders made sure to practice every day with intensity, to work on their footwork and mobility. She made sure to always lead the team in runs and to keep a positive attitude.

"I had the battle of staying mentally positive. I had to try to think that it will all pay off," she said.

Masunaga said Pascua’s attitude and skills are what makes her special.

"Her technical skills, her finesse and fitness are what she brings to the team. She and Taylor. Both of them make everyone rise to their level," Masunaga said. "Kama understands that she’s going to attract two or three players. She knows that she’s going to be drawing players to her and that creates open opportunities for others. She knows how to work with and off of her team."

"We click with each other," Kipilii said. "I know that every time I send the ball up, it happens to always find Kama’s head."

Pascua is the younger sister of Krystal Pascua, who in 2011 was named the most outstanding player of the state tournament and now plays for the University of Hawaii women’s soccer team. Pascua joined her older sister on the all-tournament team that year and was also named to the all-tournament team last year.

"Kama brings the ‘it factor’ to the team," Park-Hunt said. "She always finds a way to pull through."

That, according to Kamehameha coach Melissa Moore, makes Pascua hard to defend. Moore has known Pascua for years also, having worked with her at the Leahi Soccer Club.

"Kama is just one of those really gifted soccer players. She’s technically gifted and fantastic on the ball," Moore said. "She can control the ball so well that it’s like she’s handling it with her hands. Kama is just one of those players who is so dynamic. We always have her marked up. Pressure on her is so important."

The Raiders are awaiting today’s Punahou-Kamehameha game. If the Warriors win, ‘Iolani will take the league crown. If Punahou wins, the Raiders will place second. If that game ends in a tie, then a Punahou vs. ‘Iolani playoff will be held.

Either way, the Raiders are state tournament bound.

"I want to come out hard and keep that momentum going from there all the way to the end," she said. "We want to show everybody that it’s our year."