Four yellow cards couldn’t keep the ‘Iolani boys soccer team from grabbing the gold.
Max Ching and Keoni Makekau scored goals and the Raiders shrugged off the yellow cards to beat Punahou 2-0 to win the Division I portion of the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts/HHSAA Boys Soccer State championships at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium on Saturday.
"It was the whole team, I didn’t do anything," ‘Iolani striker KJ Ahlo said. "I am so happy for this team. We live for this moment. That’s it."
The team had its share of struggles with the inspired Buffanblu, but every time it took a body blow, it responded with a counterpunch that knocked Punahou down.
"’Iolani and Punahou games are always going to be a battle," Raiders coach Chris Lee said. "And that’s what it was until the very end, but our guys responded when they needed to."
Makekau was the third ‘Iolani player to be given a yellow card when he was caught in the 57th minute and had to be restrained from voicing his displeasure to the referee. With one of the Raiders’ top scorers serving his sentence on the bench, Spencer Ho passed a ball across the goalmouth, where Punahou keeper Henry Engel had to make a decision. He chose to chase the ball, but it passed him and found Ching’s foot.
Just like that, ‘Iolani led 1-0 and only had to keep Punahou off the scoreboard for the second time this year. Undefeated ‘Iolani posted its 10th shutout of the season.
"We were trying to cut off those serves across the goal mouth," Punahou coach David Trifonovitch said. "Because that is what they are good at, getting down that line. Even when we tried to stop them, they beat us down that line. That is the best team in the state."
The Raiders went all out for a second goal immediately after the first, but Engel made two punch saves before the action moved back toward the center of the field.
Punahou threatened again in the 74th minute, but ‘Iolani’s best defense was a countering offense. After Josh Adachi made a save on a shot by Alec Dinsmore on one end, the Raiders quickly moved to the other and earned a shot from the corner. Engel easily corralled that attempt, but bobbled the ball after the save and Makekau pounced on it for a 2-0 lead with six minutes left.
‘Iolani outshot Punahou 7-2 in the first half and 14-9 in the game, but the Buffanblu had their chances. ‘Iolani committed 21 fouls to Punahou’s 13.
The only action of the first half came in the 39th minute, when Punahou’s Brian Yanagi was given a yellow card for a hard tackle and the center referee had to chase him all the way to the bench after he appeared to celebrate the call.
The drama continued to unfold after halftime, as two of ‘Iolani’s best players found themselves one more hard tackle from being ejected. Ahlo was given a yellow card at 42:52 and top defender Timmy Leong was handed one less than a minute later.
Leong’s card came after a discussion between referees, while Punahou striker Antonio Espinoza writhed on the ground after a collision with Leong. Espinoza checked back in 15 minutes later, but his Buffanblu couldn’t crack ‘Iolani’s defense.
"We were fortunate to be in the final, really," Trifonovitch said. "My guys showed a lot of grit and a lot of determination and wanting to come back. It hurts tonight, but they are going to look back on this and be very proud of what they did."
Goal scorers–‘Iolani: Max Ching (57:51), Keoni Makekau (74:03).
Third place
Kamehameha-Maui 1, Baldwin 0
Goal scorer–KSM: Micah Alo.
Fifth place
Kaiser 3, Kalani 2
Goal scorers–Kais: Timothy Clyne, Thomas Buntenbah-Leong, Mike Austin. Kaln: Marc Teshima, Pouria Taeb.
Consolation final
Mililani 4, Hilo 0
Goal scorers–Mil: Micah Ishikawa 2, Anthony Menor, Ryan Reedy.
All-tournament team
DIVISION I
KJ Ahlo, ‘Iolani
Micah Alo, KS-Maui
Thomas Buntenbah-Leong, Kaiser
Max Ching, ‘Iolani
Alec Dinsmore, Punahou
Antonio Espinoza, Punahou
Spencer Ho, ‘Iolani
Timmy Leong, ‘Iolani
Jaren Otani, Baldwin
Avinash Singh, KS-Maui
Brian Yanagi, Punahou
Most Outstanding Player:
Josh Adachi, ‘Iolani
