Kamehameha locked up the biggest prize in Hawaii girls soccer Saturday night, but it was far from easy.

The Warriors took a one-goal first-half lead, but over the last 15 minutes, that edge was in jeopardy as Campbell put on heavy pressure and nearly tied it up. But, it was not to be for the Sabers. Kamehameha held on for a 1-0 victory in the Division I final of The Queen’s Medical Center/HHSAA Girls Soccer State Championships on Saturday night at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

“I’m exhausted,” Warriors coach Missy Moore said moments after the win. “I feel like I played the game … so exhausted. That was a tough one. Campbell sure did put the pressure on. They are a great team. We’ve had so many tough games the last couple of weeks, and I’m so proud of our girls that they finished and got the victory.”

Kamehameha (13-2) came in as ILH champion and the tournament’s top seed. The unseeded Sabers (12-5-1) came out of seemingly nowhere (fifth place in the OIA) to roll into the final.

“Our girls showed character,” Campbell coach James Curran said. “They fought until the end, and you can’t ask for anything more. For me, it’s all about character. We didn’t win the game, but we won in a lot of ways. These girls are creating a path for the younger generation coming on.”

The Warriors’ defense held strong when the championship was on the line late in the match. Jourdyn Curran’s free kick from just outside the box sailed dangerously past a big group in front. Cheyenne Mattos also peppered away with some free kicks for the Sabers, and Hokulei Ishikawa, who took passes from Curran and Haley Blossom Seleni, drilled a close-in shot over the net.

“That was a shot that needed to go in,” Ishikawa said while wiping away tears. “It was important. It didn’t go in. We’ve got next year. I’m very happy for us. We did really good. I don’t think anyone believed we would be here tonight, but we showed up and proved to everyone that we can play soccer.”

In the 34th minute, the Warriors’ Leah Feato was stationed inside the box, and she gathered in a chip from the outside from Carley Park, turned and drove a low shot home for that 1-0 lead, and, eventually, the championship.

“We’ve been working so hard to get to this point,” Park said. “We’ve been working 300 percent (the Warriors’ mantra is 100 percent each for body, mind and soul) and we knew we could get here and we did it. I’m proud of everyone. There were definitely some scares near the end, but we knew we could push through. We made sure to stay strong and keep all the goals away.”

Kitty Jones-Black, a high-scoring senior striker for Kamehameha, moved to center back late in the contest when Hayley Silipa went down with an injury.

“I’m honestly blanked out because it feels not real,” Jones-Black said moments before accepting the koa trophy for the first time in her four years. “We worked so hard and I feel like it paid off. We stayed composed (at the end). My teammates are so amazing. I love them. There’s no words. You look at them and you’re happy.”