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Sometimes, looking ahead is a good thing.
Renee Oei scored in the 31st and 33rd minutes and keeper Carrie Kamakaala led a stiff defense as Kahuku beat Kealakehe 2-0 in the first round of the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Girls Soccer State Championships on Wednesday at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.
The Red Raiders played their best game of the season with the specter of Mililani hanging over them. The Red Raiders move on to play the OIA champion today at 5 p.m. at the main stadium. The Trojans dominated Kahuku 3-0 in the second round of the OIA tournament, and the Red Raiders have not forgotten. They spent their time after the match looking over their shoulders to see if the Trojans were around to scout their performance.
"They spanked us," Kahuku coach Glenn Fujita said. "We respect them because they are the class of the OIA and to get another chance at them, that is all we wanted. We told the girls, all we had to do was get by Kealakehe and we would get Mililani."
Kealakehe pushed Kahuku in the second half on Tuesday, forcing Kamakaala to make numerous saves, including one from 18 yards out that she just deflected over the bar after Kahuku’s Marah Niu committed a foul trying to get over a Waverider to clear the ball.
"She was outstanding today," Fujita said. "She basically shut a very good offense right down. They came down in droves, but she was there making deflection after deflection.
Oei provided the scoring for the Red Raiders (9-3-3), her first goal on a cross from Pikake Hicks and another two minutes later on a deflection.
BIIF champion Kealakehe (10-2-2) drops into the consolation bracket to play Pearl City today.
Kahuku has not given up a goal since the loss to Mililani, beating Kapolei and Waianae before the state tournament. But those wins were nowhere as sweet as the loss to Mililani was sour. "Our team was a little bit timid around them," Kamakaala said. "We gave up a few easy goals that we shouldn’t have. I think we have a better shot tomorrow."
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