The ‘Iolani boys soccer team still has its eyes on the prize, but it is nice to get a little bit of revenge along the way.

"We were pretty upset last year to go out like that," ‘Iolani keeper Josh Adachi said. "So it was kind of a grudge match for us. It is nice to get back to the finals."

Keoni Makekau scored in the first half and Spencer Ho added another goal in the second as ‘Iolani beat Kamehameha-Maui 2-0 to advance to Saturday’s Division I final of the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts/HHSAA Boys Soccer State Championships at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.

The Warriors kicked ‘Iolani out in the first round of last year’s tournament when Devonte Llanes beat Adachi, who played with a broken foot, in penalty kicks. There was no beating Adachi on Friday night, though.

Adachi needed to make only four saves against the Warriors this year, never facing a particularly hard shot because his defense limited Kamehameha-Maui to just six shots, three in each half.

It was ‘Iolani’s ninth shutout this season but first since Jan.15 against Saint Louis.

"They pride themselves in shutting out teams," ‘Iolani coach Chris Lee said. "We know that possessing the ball and attacking is probably our best defense, but those guys work well together and they know how important their roles are to the team."

It is ‘Iolani’s first trip to the championship since 2010, when it lost to Punahou. The Raiders won the state title the previous year.

The Raiders and Warriors played even until the 25th minute, when KJ Ahlo worked his way into the middle of the box and tried to go top shelf on Kamehameha-Maui keeper Keola Paredes. Paredes went high and slapped away the threat in front of the crossbar, but the ball went straight to a waiting Makekau, who banged it home for the lead.

‘Iolani scored again in the second half when Spencer Ho took a corner kick in the 60th minute, serving up a nice cross that was headed directly back to him. Ho dribbled a defender to the corner of the box and beat the keeper with a hot shot into the top right of the goal.

Kamehameha-Maui drops into the third-place game for the second straight year.

"Give ‘Iolani all of the credit; they are a great team and that’s why they are No. 1," Kamehameha-Maui coach Kimo Correa said. "But my boys are No. 1 in my heart."

Goal scorers–Iolani: Keoni Makekau (25:33), Spencer Ho (59:52).

Punahou 3, Baldwin 0

Steven Yoshimoto and Alec Dinsmore scored in the first half and the Buffanblu beat the Bears to earn a shot at the state title.

Punahou will be in its 27th championship match, having won 18 of them.

The Buffanblu will meet ILH champion ‘Iolani, which will be in its 20th title game. The Raiders have won eight of them. Kamehameha is third on the list of appearances with eight.

"Punahou is Punahou," Baldwin coach Kane Palazzotto said. "You always get people to say ‘Punahou is having an off year,’ yet they are in the final again."

Yoshimoto got things started for the Buffanblu, turning a Baldwin mistake in the box into an instant goal in the 11th minute. Dinsmore added to the lead in the 18th when he took a cross from Duncan McKenna and one-timed it past Baldwin keeper Benjamin Wuthrich.

Punahou had 10 shots in the first half to Baldwin’s two, only one of them requiring a save by Punahou keeper Henry Engle.

Antonio Espinoza added Punahou’s third goal in the 50th minute off a direct kick he blasted over Baldwin’s three-man wall and into the goal.

"It’s really a blessing to get back to the final," Punahou coach David Trifonovitch said.

Goal scorers–Punahou: Steven Yoshimoto (10:14), Alec Dinsmore (17:36), Antonio Espinoza (49:53).

DIVISION II

Mid-Pacific 1, Hawaii Prep 0

The Owls, who have been to every state tournament since Division II was instituted in 2008, used that experience to nip Ka Makani.

Freshman Payton Boyd, one of the few Owls who had not been in a state game before, got a perfect cross from Kai Umeda and headed it in in the 47th minute for the lone goal.

"It was a perfect pass, I just nailed it in," Boyd said.

That was when Mid-Pacific’s defense, which allowed Hawaii Prep one shot in the first half and only one more in the second, took over. HPA coach Rich Braithwaite credited Mid-Pacific junior sweeper Brandon Ho with shutting down his team, making it all but impossible to play the ball over the top.

"He’s been our defensive player of the year the last couple of years," Mid-Pacific coach Jayson Abe said. "He is certainly our most consistent player. We know what to expect out of him; it is just another game for Brandon."

The Owls have five shutouts to their credit this season, three of them in their past four games. They beat Seabury Hall 1-0 in the first round, and the most goals they have given up this year is four to ILH Division I champion ‘Iolani.

"It’s more of a team sport, it wasn’t me alone," Ho said. "It’s the whole defense, we work hard together and it’s a good combination. It’s all of us combined, that’s it. It’s the team."

Hawaii Prep struggled on the big stage, being assessed for seven cards to Mid-Pacific’s none and playing a man down for the last 16 minutes after Kama Hurwitz was sent off for his second yellow. Ka Makani committed 17 fouls to Mid-Pacific’s nine.

Goal scorers–MPI: Payton Boyd (47:11).

Honokaa 3, Christian Liberty 2

Sometimes a slice is a good thing.

Junior forward Preston Branco curled a corner kick directly into the goal in the 52nd minute and the Dragons held on to beat the Canefire and return to the championship match.

Honokaa won the title in 2011 and 2012 but stayed home last year.

Branco, who also scored Honokaa’s first goal to erase a 1-0 deficit in the 21st minute, didn’t mean to be the hero. He was simply trying to dish out an assist, just as he did on Honokaa’s second goal.

"I was trying to kick it to the (6-yard line)," Branco said. "I guess I just sliced it and it had a curve and went in. A goal is a goal, right?"

Honokaa coach Maurice Miranda said Branco actually curved another corner kick into the goal in practice before the game and was reminded he has guys running to the goal and he should use them. He will overlook Branco’s mistake this time, since it made the difference against a Christian Liberty team that gave the Dragons everything they wanted and more.

"Every year we play them it is a tough battle," Miranda said. "There was a time when I would have sent the JV out to play them but those guys have done a wonderful job and now they are a legitimate contender.

"This is good, the Big Island representation."

Honokaa outshot Christian Liberty 28-14 but only 12-10 in the second half. The Canefire had three balls hit the crossbar, one of them with a minute left in the game, and were setting up for a free kick when the center referee blew his whistle to end it.

The Canefire tied the score in the 47th minute when Nakaiya Kerr blasted a ball from 35 yards out that caught Honokaa unaware and settled into the goal.

Branco responded five minutes later.

Goal scorers–Honokaa: Preston Branco (21:23, 52:01), Zechariah Ugalde (39.00). Christian Liberty: Louis Moylan (4:33), Nakaiya Kerr (47:07).

Consolation

Kaiser 5, Kapolei 1

Kapaa 2, Roosevelt 1

Seabury Hall 1, Leilehua 0, PKs

Kalani 3, Kealakehe 2, PKs