After a year away, Kamehameha is on the verge of returning to the state soccer tournament.

The Warriors (8-0-1) shut out Punahou (6-3-0) for the second time this year, 2-0 on Friday at Kunuiakea Stadium. The win pretty much assures the 2012 state champions a shot at another crown, but they aren’t thinking that far ahead.

"Now we can take a deep breath," Kamehameha coach Melissa Moore said. "We are very happy to get this win today."

Punahou could have thrown the ILH race into chaos, but now needs a ton of help to return to the state tournament. Even if the Buffanblu win out, the Warriors only need to win one of their last three games to guarantee a finish above Punahou and the state berth that comes with being one of the top two of three ILH Division I teams.

Two of those games are against St. Francis and Mid-Pacific, which they beat by a combined score of 10-0 in the first round. ‘Iolani, which beat Punahou in last year’s state final, can knock the Buffanblu out with one win and one tie against the Saints and the Owls even if it loses to Punahou and Kamehameha.

"The likelihood of us making it to postseason play are very, very slim," Punahou coach Starr Johnson said. "Soccer is a tricky game. (Kamehameha) definitely deserved to win today; they played better than we did."

Kamehameha scored the only goal it would need in the 23rd minute when junior defender Sarah Lau got her head on a pass in front of the goal and midfielder Emma Young got enough of her headband on it to direct it into the goal. Lau helped put the game away in the 77th minute when she placed a corner kick in front of the goal, where Kiani Halushka headed it in. Halushka beat Punahou with a goal in the 80th minute earlier this year.

Friday was the first time all season Punahou has given up multiple goals.

The game ended with Punahou senior Megan Ching motionless on the turf with a knee injury. She was helped off the pitch after both teams crossed the field to check on her.

Kamehameha dictated the action on all three lines against the Buffanblu, allowing Punahou only three hot shots that were stopped by keeper Sisilia Meli. Other than those, Meli stayed pretty clean, thanks to the defense in front of her led by senior defender Shyann Moriguchi. The former gymnast also helped on the offensive end, turning every throw-in from inside 25 yards into a scoring opportunity by reaching the goal.

"She is so much more than just a throw-in," Moore said. "She is a solid defender and so smart tactically, she makes good decisions. The defense came ready to play. We were working on some scenarios and situations we thought might come into play and that is exactly what happened, so we were ready to defend."

With the ILH’s top two spots all but settled, Kamehameha’s focus turns to a Jan. 25 date at ‘Iolani for the ILH championship. The teams played to a scoreless tie the first time they met, and the way the Warriors looked on Friday that result might repeat itself.

"We know we have another big game coming up against ‘Iolani," Moriguchi said. "We just need to be solid the rest of the way, but we are not counting states until we get our name in there."