An early barrage in the second half was enough for ‘Iolani to move on in states.
Seniors Jill Shimabuku and Ashley Park-Hunt scored in the first 10 minutes after intermission and the top-seeded Raiders advanced to the semifinals of the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Girls Soccer State Championships with a 2-0 win over Moanalua on Thursday night at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
‘Iolani (12-1-1) will play Kaiser in the second semifinal game tonight at 5. The Cougars advanced with a 4-0 win over No. 4 seed Konawaena.
"It was kind of slow in the first half but we got it together early in the second half and it picked up our momentum for the rest of the game," ‘Iolani defender Taylor Kipilii said.
‘Iolani outshot Moanalua 11-3 in the first half, forcing Na Menehune goalkeeper Pearlena Kahele-Manners to make seven saves to keep the game scoreless at the break.
The Raiders scored two quick goals to start off the second half.
Shimabuku gave ‘Iolani a 1-0 lead when she took a pass from Nikki Mitsuyasu and placed a left-footed shot past Kahele-Manners just 3 minutes in.
Park-Hunt followed that with her goal 7 minutes later when Kahele-Manners crashed into a defender trying to scoop up a pass by Alyssa Kim. The ball got loose and found the foot of Park-Hunt, who scored easily for a 2-0 lead. Kahele-Manners finished with 10 saves on 18 ‘Iolani shots.
"We stressed to the kids that (Kahele-Manners) is a good keeper," ‘Iolani coach Kristin Matsunaga said. "We needed to do a better job of placing our shots."
Na Menehune didn’t attempt a shot until the 31st minute, but got two good looks late in the half.
Moanalua turned its only corner kick into a near goal as Haley Graham’s kick settled just in front of the goal, giving Moanalua two tries at a goal that were blocked and eventually handled by ‘Iolani goalkeeper Courtney Overland.
Overland finished with six saves as the Raiders defense limited Moanalua’s scoring chances, holding Na Menehune leading goal scorer Storm Kenui in check.
"We expected (Kenui) to be in the midfield but she actually played up top," Matsunaga said. "Our defense was pretty solid — just tried to be aware of where she was."
‘Iolani earned the top seed in states with a victory over Punahou last Friday to claim its first ILH championship since 1999.
Kipilii, last year’s ILH defensive player of the year, is one of nine seniors on a team that has lost in the state final each of the past two years.
"Our ILH championship was our first in 13 years and that was also the last time we won states," Kipilii said. "We’ve been so close that for the nine seniors and everyone on this team we really want to bring it home."
OTHER D-I QUARTERFINALS
No. 2 Mililani 3, Kahuku 0
Britney Yoshimura, TJ Reyno and Casey Thompson all scored in a 13-minute span in the first half as the Trojans (13-0-1) defeated the Red Raiders (9-4-3).
Reyno and Thompson also had assists for Mililani, which is the only team remaining without a loss.
The Trojans will meet unseeded Punahou in the first semifinal tonight at 5.
Punahou 3, No. 3 Kamehameha-Maui 0
Lauren Candelario scored just 4 minutes in and Dempsey Banks found the back of the net for the second time in as many games as the Buffanblu (12-2-1) shut out the Warriors (13-3).
Kylie-Ann Yasutake added a goal in the 80th minute and Jensen Toner, who scored in a 2-0 win over Pearl City in the opening round on Wednesday, finished with two assists.
Kaiser 4, No. 4 Konawaena 0
Kai Hasegawa scored twice and Courtney Okazaki and Amanda Okihara added one goal apiece as the Cougars (13-1-1) rolled past the Wildcats (11-2-1).
Hasegawa scored in the 39th minute just before half and Okihara added her goal 3 minutes into the second half to turn the game into a blowout.
DIVISION II QUARTERFINALS
No. 1 Mid-Pacific 4, Leilehua 0
The two-time defending champion Owls (5-7-1) scored all four goals in the first 20 minutes to blow by the Mules (4-9-1).
Taylor Higa scored in the 11th and 18th minutes and Mikayla Carias and Alicia Johnson also scored for MPI, which plays unseeded Kauai in a semifinal game in the main stadium today at 3.
Kauai 7, No. 4 Radford 0
Cascade Mayer and Joni Hashizume each scored two goals, and three other Red Raiders (8-2-2) also found the back of the net in a dominant win over the Rams (5-9-1).
Marissa Ruiz, Malu Vegas and Kyren Ishikawa also scored for Kauai, which has outscored its first two opponents 12-0.
No. 2 Kapaa 2, Nanakuli 0
Taylor-Alani Kaneakua scored in the 15th minute and Madisson Hinkel snuck in a goal late in the first half to help the Warriors (7-1-2) advance to the first semifinal today at 1 against Hawaii Prep with a win over the Golden Hawks (6-8-1).
No. 3 Hawaii Prep 3, Makua Lani 1
Ka Makani (11-1-2) scored three unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes to come from behind to defeat the Lions (5-9).
Gabriella Ewing, Jessica Benioni scored a minute apart and Nanea Tavares added a goal in the 74th minute for HPA.
Sina Easley scored for Makua Lani just 3 minutes into the game.
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DIVISION I
Thursday
5: King Kekaulike 5, Waianae 0
6: Kealakehe 2, Pearl City 0
Quarterfinals
7: Kaiser 4, Konawaena 0
8: Punahou 3, Kamehameha-Maui 0
9: Mililani 3, Kahuku 0
10: ‘Iolani 2, Moanalua 0
Today
11: Moanalua vs. Konawaena,
3 p.m. field 7
12: Kahuku vs. Kamehameha-Maui, 3 p.m. field 8
Semifinals
At main stadium
13: ‘Iolani vs. Kaiser, 5 p.m.
14: Mililani vs. Punahou, 7 p.m.
Saturday
15: Consolation, King Kekaulike vs. Kealakehe, 3 p.m. field 7
16: Fifth-place game,3 p.m. field 8
17: Third-place game, 3 p.m. main stadium
18: Championship game, 7 p.m. main stadium
DIVISION II
Thursday
5: Kamehameha-Hawaii 5, Seabury 0
6: Honokaa 1, Kalaheo 0, 2 OT, PK
Quarterfinals
7: Mid-Pacific 4, Leilehua 0
8: Kauai 7, Radford 0
9: Kapaa 2, Nanakuli 0
10: Hawaii Prep 3, Makua Lani 1
Today
11: Leilehua vs. Radford, 3 p.m. field 9
12: Nanakuli vs. Makua Lani, 3 p.m. field 10
Semifinals
At main stadium
13: Kapaa vs. Hawaii Prep, 1 p.m.
14: Mid-Pacific vs. Kauai, 3 p.m.
Saturday
15: Consolation, Kamehameha-Hawaii vs. Honokaa, 3 p.m. field 9
16: Fifth-place game, 3 p.m. field 10
17: Third-place game, 1 p.m. main stadium
18: Championship game, 5 p.m. main stadium
