Daniel Yamashita scored the winning goal, then got disqualified for his team’s next game.
Yamashita scored in the 79th and final minute to lift Mid-Pacific to a 1-0 win over host ‘Iolani in an ILH boys soccer match on Wednesday afternoon. The win snapped the Raiders’ 22-match win streak that dated back to 2013.
Yamashita got a red card for taking off his shirt while celebrating his goal, one that provided an emotional finish to a match where both squads missed opportunities and appeared to be headed for an 0-0 draw.
“We’ve been working hard all season, our coaches have been pushing us, it was an amazing feeling when we scored that winner,” said Yamashita, who must sit out Saturday’s game against Punahou.
Division II Mid-Pacific, which won last year’s D-II state title, is 6-0-1. ‘Iolani, last year’s Division I state champion, is 5-1-0.
“The main thing was believing in ourselves, staying composed and playing without fear,” Mid-Pacific coach Jayson Abe said. “We had nothing to lose at this point and ‘Iolani had a streak on the line.”
Yamashita finally capitalized after missing several shots from close range in the second half. Tyler Allen brought the ball down the left sideline and crossed it into the box to Yamashita. His initial flick of the ball went off the crossbar, but he headed in the rebound for the goal from a few yards out. He ran down the right sideline in celebration as his teammates swarmed around him. ‘Iolani argued that Mid-Pacific jumped into its goalkeeper, which would have nullified the final sequence.
“He’s been on the varsity for the last four years, he’s been in a lot of big games,” Abe said of Yamashita. “It shows a lot to his character that he really stuck that play out. He hit the post and a lot of players would’ve given up on the play. He stuck it out and finished it through.”
The Raiders got a yellow card for arguing the call and then the red card was issued.
“In the moment, I just went for it I guess,” Yamashita said. “It’s just another challenge. If we want to be ILH champs, we just have to overcome it.”
The goal was only the second one allowed by the Raiders this season. The Raiders had several opportunities to score late in the match.
“Mid-Pacific was doing a good job of possessing and we had to make some adjust to minimize that,” Raiders coach Chris Lee said. “They’re just a very good team and we weren’t playing that well in the first half.”
Without Yamashita in the lineup, Abe said it’s another opportunity for someone to step up.
For ‘Iolani, the loss can change the course of the season for better or worse. ‘Iolani’s last defeat came in the 2013 state quarterfinals to Kamehameha-Maui.
“You can always go two ways,” Lee said. “It can be motivation to get better or you can fold up shop. Hopefully these guys show up to practice hungry to get better.”