Trailing by a goal in the waning seconds of Tuesday’s key Interscholastic League of Honolulu soccer match, Punahou turned to senior midfielder Dempsey Banks.
The co-captain was right on the money, scoring her second goal of the match in the 84th minute after dribbling through a throng of defenders to help the Buffanblu salvage a 3-3 tie with Kamehameha just as the sun was setting behind Kunuiakea Stadium.
The tie in the regular-season finale proved pivotal for Punahou, enabling the Buffanblu to tie ‘Iolani for first place in league play at 10-1-1.
The Raiders — the state runner-up in each of the past two seasons, and the team responsible for blanking Kamehameha 3-0 last Saturday — will face Punahou on Thursday at 4 p.m. at Kapiolani Park to determine the league’s champion. Both squads have already earned berths in the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts/HHSAA Girls Soccer State Championships scheduled for Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex. But a win in the playoff game basically guarantees the winner the state tourney’s top seed.
"Obviously we’re disappointed in having to play another game, which will be another tough one, but as I told the girls, at least we still have control of our own destiny," said Starr Johnson, Punahou’s first-year coach, when asked about Thursday’s playoff. "It’s up to the girls to pull together and earn what we came for, and that’s the ILH championship."
Tuesday’s match, which pitted the teams that have won the past 10 state girls soccer titles, ended in some controversy, as Dempsey’s last-second goal came nearly four minutes after the allotted 80 minutes of play. However, the referee keeps the time on the field.
"This is the second time this season where the ref has gone over the (allotted) time. I’m not making excuses, but I just don’t understand it," said Kamehameha coach Melissa Moore, when asked about the four extra minutes that elapsed. "I just feel so bad for the girls. I better go read my rule book again because I really have no idea where all this extra time is coming from. But, with everything that’s happened, to end the season this way shows me that we have the spark and fire for next year. I’m upset and excited at the same time."
The Buffanblu, winners of three consecutive state crows from 2003 to ’05 and 2009 to ’11, raced out to a 1-0 lead on Banks’ goal in the fourth minute.
In the 15th minute, Abcde Zoller found Makue Kawaiualani in the attacking half, and the senior forward proceeded to elude two defenders before sneaking a shot by Buffanblu keeper Noelani Kong-Johnson.
Punahou then retook the lead in the 35th minute as Banks executed a perfect cross through the goal box, which bounced off the keeper and right to Sammy Nishiyama, who converted the goal.
But the Warriors (8-3-1) ended the half with two goals in three minutes as Summer Burnett scored on a ball that pinballed to her following a corner kick with three minutes remaining in the period, and Kawaiualani scored on a bending ball past the diving goalkeeper to put her squad ahead 3-2 just prior to the halftime whistle.
"We really had a hard time playing our own game, and we weren’t playing the way we normally do," said Johnson of her team’s sluggish start. "I give props to my team, though. They re-grouped, and we’re really proud of the way they came back in the second half. We didn’t get the ‘W,’ but we fought to the very end to get that last goal in."
Punahou now must focus on ‘Iolani, whose coach had a good view of the game.
"Of course we wanted (Kamehameha) to win, that would have been the ideal situation, but I’d actually prefer playing Punahou for the championship rather than saying we won because (the Buffanblu) lost to Kamehameha," said ‘Iolani coach Kristin Masunaga. "I want our girls to really earn it, and the best way, really, is to play each other for first place."
OIA RED BOYS PLAYOFFS
Kaiser 4, Aiea 0
Diogo Lira, Kai Kinoshita, Sylas Keb and Tim Clyne each scored as the Cougars ended Na Alii’s season. Kaiser advances to today’s 7 p.m. quarterfinal at Kapolei.
Pearl City 2, Castle 0
The Chargers got goals from Derek Chang and Ryan Nakano to shut out the Knights. Pearl City moves on to today’s quarterfinal against Moanalua at Kapolei. Castle’s season is over.
Campbell 4, Kailua 3, PK
Bryson Maximo, Alex Bryon and Tevin Salles scored for the Sabers, who couldn’t get another opportunity to break the tie after two overtime periods.
The Sabers defeated the Surfriders on penalty kicks.
OIA WHITE BOYS PLAYOFFS
Farrington 1, Waipahu 0, 2OT
Jansen Wong scored in double overtime as the Govs advanced and will face Waianae in the semifinals.
McKinley 2, Nanakuli 1, OT
Micah Kuhia scored twice to lead the Tigers. The Golden Hawks got their only goal from Nyenoa Ulanca-Kauweloa.
