‘Iolani moved one step closer to a fifth state championship with a dominant 3-0 victory Friday night over Mililani.
A game that was expected to be razor close turned out to be a Raiders runaway in the Division I semifinals of The Queen’s Medical Center/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls Soccer State Championships at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
Unseeded ‘Iolani (12-0-3) rode the breakout performance of freshman Mia Watanabe, who scored all three of the goals, including two that showed some uncanny skill and unbridled speed.
“I was kind of surprised (by the three-goal win),” Raiders coach Kristin Masunaga said. “Scoring early put them on their heels, and after we got that second one, it’s hard to come back from.”
For the Oahu Interscholastic Association champion and top-seeded Trojans (12-1-2), it was the first loss of the season and a tough one to stomach, since the Raiders controlled all facets of the game, including the pace.
“They just beat us outright,” Mililani coach Ray Akiona said. “We went down two goals early and the momentum just shifted in their favor. We’re proud to be here and will focus on tomorrow’s third-place game. They (the Raiders) are good with the ball, have good speed, and are very organized. They are a very special team.”
‘Iolani, which will play Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Punahou in tonight’s final, is working to add to the haul of state crowns it earned in 1987, ’92, ’99 and 2013.
Watanabe made it 1-0 in the fourth minute. She took a pass from the inside by Kylee Kim-Bustillos, jetted down the right wing and around a defender to deposit a shot to the low inside corner. Watanabe got it done with sheer speed and also made a nicely timed cut back a bit to the inside for a better shooting angle.
“I worked hard to improve my speed over the years,” she said. “I’ve done training with Kenny Patton, and I try to use my stride to an advantage.”
About 13 minutes later, Watanabe’s 18-yard shot just outside the box on the right wing took a wicked curving path from right to left in front of Mililani goalie Andrea Kenagy and made it just inside the far post for a 2-0 lead.
In the second half, Watanabe finished off her hat trick by trapping a high pass from Kelsey Takahashi in front of the goal and booting the ball into the high right corner.
The Trojans had two golden chances to score late in the second half. Raiders goalkeeper Musuai Isaia sprawled to grab the ball away from Breanna-Leigh Bactista on a breakaway. A few minutes later, Tia Rodriguez’s hard 16-yard blast went just wide.
Mililani failed in its attempt to win a fifth state title. The Trojans edged ‘Iolani 1-0 for the championship in 2015 and also won it in 1988, ’94 and 2002.
Punahou 3, Pearl City 0
The Chargers’ reign as Division I state champions is over, and the Buffanblu are headed to the state D-I title game.
True Dydasco got the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion and second-seeded Punahou on the board with a goal in the 20th minute. Nine minutes later, Jamie-Lyn Shimamoto followed up with a goal to make it 2-0.
Lauren Mukaigawa finished the scoring with a thrust deep into Pearl City territory for a goal in the game’s final minute.
Punahou (12-1-1) meets ILH rival ‘Iolani in tonight’s final in an attempt to capture a 12th state championship.
In the regular season, the Buffanblu and Raiders met twice. One game ended in a 1-1 tie and ‘Iolani won the other one 2-1 — Punahou’s only loss.
Pearl City (11-4-1) came up short of its attempt at a sixth state crown. When it was still 2-0 and less than two minutes remained, the Chargers’ Dealenn Tokunaga’s point blank shot from in front and to the right just missed high.
DIVISION I
Semifinals
‘Iolani 3, Mililani 0
Punahou 3, Pearl City 0
Fifth-place semifinals
Hilo 4, Aiea 0
Castle 3, Baldwin 0
Goal scorers—Hilo: Miya Clarke (9:00, 69:00), Alyeemomi Amaral (20:00), Haley Miyashiro (66:00). Castle: Ciana Rivera (22:00), Tehani Smith (36:00), Danielle Chang (57:00).
DIVISION II
Semifinals
Hawaii Prep 2, Seabury Hall 1
Kapaa 2, Pac-Five 1
Goal scorers—Hawaii Prep: Emi Higgins (0:25, 43:06). Seabury Hall: Makena Dougherty (32:01). Kapaa: Brianna Binder (32:59), Kaisha Davis-Caberto (53:53). Pac-Five: Aislynn Crowder (76:04).
Fifth-place semifinals
Waipahu 5, Sacred Hearts 1
Makua Lani 1, Kamehameha-Hawaii 0
Goal scorers—Waipahu: Mya Tolentino (9:00, 49:00, 53:00), Kaycee Manding (28:00), Alexis Mundon (79:00). Sacred Hearts: Christiann Arakawa (25:00). Makua Lani: Moni Moniate (5:00).
Consolation
Kauai 2, Kalaheo 1
Goal scorers—Kauai: Kyla Bandsma (31:00), Chassidy Cantorna (69:00). Kalaheo: Micayla Jahnke (13:00).
