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Ray Akiona has stepped down as girls soccer coach at Mililani.
Akiona made the decision official on Friday, ending a 17-year run with the program that began with two seasons as an assistant before taking over as head coach for the last 15 years.
Under Akiona, the Trojans won nine OIA titles (2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018) and earned one state Division I title (2015). The team also finished as state runner-up three times (2004, 2006 and 2010).
In addition, Akiona spent two seasons as an assistant under James Uson, in 2002 and 2003, two years in which Mililani finished as OIA champs and second place in the state.
“I resigned on Friday,” Akiona said by cellphone Wednesday. “I think it’s time that the team goes in a different direction. I think it will be a good change that the program needs. With a new approach, Mililani girls soccer will become even more exciting.
“It was a great ride and I don’t regret anything about it. I consider myself fortunate to step into a good program and it will continue to be a good program. It’s a good program because of the parents, the administration and the players, and it’s time for me to pass the baton.”
In 2018, Akiona’s Trojans made it all the way to the state semifinals, where they lost 1-0 to eventual Division I champion ‘Iolani.
Mililani athletic director Glenn Nitta announced Wednesday that he is in the process of finding a replacement for Akiona.
UH softball beats North Dakota in 9 innings
University of Hawaii senior Danielle Garcielita’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Rainbow Wahine softball team a 4-3 win over North Dakota on Wednesday in the Bank of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Classic.
UH right-hander Dana Thomsen gave up a two-run homer in the first inning but held the Fighting Hawks to one hit over the next eight innings and earned a complete-game win. Thomsen (8-7) struck out nine and walked two.
UH (13-11) scored a single runs in the third and fifth innings and the international tiebreaker went into effect in the eighth, placing a runner at second to start each inning. UND (13-13) scored on a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth and UH answered with Rachael Turner’s RBI single in the bottom of the inning.
Thomsen stranded UND runners at second and third in the top of the ninth and Garcielita’s fly to center scored Chardonnay Pantastico to end the game.
UH faces No. 4 Tennessee (26-1) today at 7 p.m.
HPU earns win against No. 3 Dixie State
The Hawaii Pacific softball team handed No. 3 Dixie State its first loss of the season on Wednesday, upsetting the Trailblazers 2-1 in the first half of a doubleheader at Sand Island Softball Field.
Noelani Boyer hit a two-run home run in the first inning to give the Sharks (9-7, 6-4 PacWest) a lead it would not relinquish, as pitcher Jordan Curry tossed a complete game, allowing three hits.
Dixie State (21-1, 7-1) bounced back in the second game, winning 6-3.
>> The Chaminade softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader with No. 25 Cal Baptist on Wednesday, falling 7-0 and 12-0 at Central Oahu Regional Park. The Silverswords fell to 4-15, and 1-15 in PacWest play.
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