Kamehameha forces championship match vs. ‘Iolani

Kamehameha’s Leah Feato missed most of this season due to a knee injury.

She wasn’t about to miss out on an opportunity to beat ‘Iolani in the final of the ILH Division I girls soccer tournament Saturday.

Feato scored a golden goal in the 85th minute off a picture-perfect pass from Maya Hagiwara as Kamehameha beat ‘Iolani 3-2 at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

Hagiwara won possession of the ball near midfield and delivered a through ball to Feato, who found the back of the net in only her second game of the season.

“I saw ‘Iolani’s back line was flat and I had a wide space for me to go through and I called for the ball and Maya passed it nicely through and I was able to finish,” said Feato, a senior.

Said Hagiwara, a junior: “I didn’t really see Leah at first. When I had the ball I felt she was wide open and I knew she could shoot the ball from there and I knew it would go in.”

Kamehameha and ‘Iolani, the regular-season champion, will play for the league’s overall title Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at ‘Iolani’s field.

Both teams had already qualified for the HHSAA Division I state tournament, which starts Jan. 28. Tuesday’s winner will be seeded and receive a first-round bye in the 12-team tournament.

“It’s going to be another battle I’m sure,” said Warriors coach Missy Moore. “I expect another great match Tuesday.”

Feato said she tore the ACL and meniscus in her left knee in April and underwent surgery in June. She only played in the Warriors’ regular-season finale against Mid-Pacific and in Saturday’s game.

“I had to keep mentally strong for my teammates so when I did have the opportunity to play in a game like this one, I could make an impact on the field,” Feato said.

Kamehameha scored in the 10th minute when ‘Iolani couldn’t clear a corner kick and the Warriors’ Caili Cain gained possession and blasted a shot into the goal straightaway from about 8 yards out. It was the only shot on goal for Kamehameha in the first half.

‘Iolani tied it at 1-1 in the 19th minute when Marea Lee took a long pass from Kelsey Takahashi and chipped the ball over the goalkeeper.

Takahashi put the Raiders ahead on a penalty kick in the 42nd. A Kamehameha defender was called for a handball in the box while battling for position with ‘Iolani’s Sasha Asselbaye on a high bouncing ball. Takahashi’s shot went to the bottom-left corner of the goal.

The Warriors tied it at 2-2 in the 55th when Carley Park’s free kick from 25 yards out went off the goalkeeper’s hands and just under the crossbar.

In the 80 minutes of regulation, the Warriors (10-2) had four shots on goals, while the Raiders (9-2-1) had five.

In the seventh minute, ‘Iolani defender Kelsey Wong suffered an apparent leg injury and did not return. Raiders coach Kristin Masunaga said she is hopeful Wong can return soon.

“Both of us came out hard,” Masunaga said. “We really wanted to win this one so we don’t have to play again on Tuesday. We have a lot to work on.”