Bowler sends ‘Iolani soccer seniors off happy

Rachel Bowler delivered the winning kick to send her seniors off right.

With time running out, Bowler’s free kick from about 25 yards out found the back of the goal in the 80th minute to give ‘Iolani a 3-2 win over Punahou on Friday at Kozuki Stadium. As her teammates ran toward Bowler in celebration, the game was called. Bowler’s goal provided a prelude to her team’s senior day celebration that followed.

“I saw the wall on the left side, so I wanted to shoot (to the) right corner,” Bowler explained.

The season finale had no bearing on both teams’ postseason, which was decided before the game. Punahou (10-1-1) and ‘Iolani (9-0-3) had claimed the ILH’s two berths to the state girls soccer tournament that begins Feb. 13. Punahou had already won the league’s title. Still, the Raiders were playing for pride on a day meant to honor their senior class.

“The senior class is awesome,” Bowler said. “They’re my inspiration. I look up to them. I don’t want them to graduate.”

Senior forward Pikake Kaneshiro, done for the season with an injury, got the start and was subbed out seconds into the game.

“She was a really key player throughout the years,” senior Kristen Hori said. “I was really happy that she got to step on the field for just a little bit.”

Senior Megan Goo scored in the third minute, firing a shot from the top right corner of the box high into the left corner of the goal. Hori put the Raiders ahead 2-0 in the fifth minute when her shot from the top left of the box sailed into the goal.

“We wanted to come out hard,” Hori said. “This game didn’t mean anything for the standings, so we were playing for our pride.”

Kaile Halvorsen cut the deficit to 2-1 on her free kick from the top of the box in the 32nd minute. Shay Nakahira’s goal tied it at 2-2 in the 49th minute.

“It told us we needed to pick it up and play our hardest,” Bowler said.

Goo and Kylee Kim-Bustillo had several shots on goal in the final 10 minutes that were stopped by Punahou backup goalkeeper Aaliyah Fesili. ‘Iolani goalkeeper Courtney Overland, another senior, stopped a shot by Punahou’s Kailey Totherow on a free-kick attempt in the 79th minute from about 30 yards out. Kim-Bustillo followed with a shot that went just wide.

The state tournament begins on Feb. 13 with the Raiders playing a first-round game somewhere on the Big Island. The new regional format of the state tournament has first-round and quarterfinal games at sites on Oahu and the Big Island and semifinals and championship a week after. The Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion will host on opening weekend, though the BIIF champion won’t be determined until Feb. 7 — leaving parents wondering when and where to book their flights. Kamehameha has already been selected to host opening weekend on Oahu.

“It’s too bad a site wasn’t determined,” said ‘Iolani coach Kristin Masunaga. “I just feel bad because our parents want to make plans. I’m sure the other teams that have to travel, their parents want to make plans. It’d be really sad if the cost is too high and parents who want to go can’t go.”

ILH

Varsity girls

‘Iolani 3, Punahou 2
Sacred Hearts 2, Pac-Five 2

Goal scorers–Iol: Megan Goo, Kristen Hori, Rachel Bowler. Pun: Kaile Halvorsen, Shay Nakahira. SH: Leinani Lacio, Kelli Keahiolalo. P5: Chelsie DePonte, Madison Tsuruda.

OIA PLAYOFFS

Varsity girls

Third place
Mililani 2, Kahuku 0

Consolation finals
Pearl City 6, Kaiser 4

Goal scorers–Mil: Tia Furuta 2. PC: Randi Fontes 2, Jenise Starr Tagalog, Bethany Nazareno, Zoe Sano, Daelenn Tokunaga. Kais: Noelle Mercado 2, Noe Seaman, Amanda Lui.