‘Iolani’s reign is over.
Big Island champion Konawaena, the third seed, eliminated the Raiders 2-1 on Thursday in the Division I quarterfinals of The Queen’s Medical Center/HHSAA Girls Soccer State Championships.
The teams were tied 1-all though 100 minutes of regulation and two overtimes before the Wildcats sent ‘Iolani to its demise, 5-4 on penalty kicks, at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
“It was a major upset for us,” Konawaena goalkeeper Kyanah Blas said. “To come out and play today was really nerve-racking and we were hoping we would win. And we did it in front of all these people who thought we wouldn’t win.”
‘Iolani (10-3-1) came into the tournament as the two-time defending state champion, but was unseeded after placing second in the ILH to Kamehameha.
“We came out flat and played our worst game,” Raiders coach Kristin Masunaga said. “The quarterfinals of the state tournament is not the time to play your worst game. We didn’t deserve to win. We didn’t want to get into a shootout. It wasn’t meant to be.”
The Wildcats (12-3-1) move on to tonight’s semifinals against unseeded Campbell, which knocked off OIA champion and second-seeded Aiea 2-0.
“We’re a small but amazing team and I’m glad we got to show them off,” Konawaena coach Kaua Wall said. “We’ll go and rest up and get prepared. We’re very excited.”
In the second overtime, Blas made a crucial fingertip stop of a Sasha Asselbaye missile from 18 yards out.
“I’m really scared for high balls sometimes,” Blas said. “I saw it coming and got my middle finger on it and barely tipped it over. My finger was so sore afterward.”
In the deciding penalty-kick portion, the first seven shots went in as Konawaena took a 4-3 lead. Blas ended the fourth of five scheduled rounds of shooters by diving to save a shot by ‘Iolani’s Taylor Arakaki.
Raiders goalkeeper Musuai Isaia kept her team in it with a stop of a shot by Blas, who was asked to be a shooter, too. ‘Iolani’s Taylor Venenciano followed with a goal to make it 4-4, leading to a sixth sudden-death round.
That’s when Annika Siddons snuck a shot in off the low left post for the 5-4 lead. After Hailey Kawamura’s tying attempt sailed high, the Wildcats began their celebration.
Earlier, with a goal in the 63rd minute, ‘Iolani’s Ali Yoshida broke a scoreless tie. Then, in the 71st minute, Konawaena’s Nanea Wall found the left corner for the equalizer on a break down the right wing.
In the first overtime, the Raiders’ Kelsey Takahashi hit the cross bar.
“I definitely think we could have worked harder in the first half,” ‘Iolani’s Kelsey Wong said. “We weren’t playing our game and we weren’t possessing the ball like we should. Obviously, it sucks, but it shows that next year we’ll have to come back harder and prove to everyone that we’re the best.”
Campbell 2, Aiea 0
The unseeded Sabers (11-4-1) got late goals from Jourdyn Curran and Cheyenne Mattos to shock the OIA champion and second-seeded Na Alii (12-3).
King Kekaulike 3, Pearl City 2, 2OT/PKs
Fourth-seeded Na Alii advanced to the semifinals by edging the Chargers.
The MIL champions were ahead 2-1 thanks to two goals by Teani Arakawa, but Pearl City’s Kaila Takai knotted it in the 38th minute.
In PKs, Zoe Alexandra Asue, Jaycie-Ann Valoroso, Aliana Akinaka and Kaehukai Kaaihue scored for King Kekaulike (9-1-2), which will play Kamehameha in tonight’s semifinals.
Caylie Uyema also scored for the OIA runner-up Chargers (11-3-1) in regulation.
Kamehameha 3, Mililani 0
After a scoreless first half, Maya Hagiwara broke through for three goals to power the ILH champion and top-seeded Warriors (11-2) to the victory over the unseeded Trojans.
Hagiwara’s first goal was on a rebound of Anuhea Aluli’s shot. Her third came on a cross from D’awncey Black-Jones.
The Trojans dropped to 11-2-2.
DIVISION II
Kamehameha-Hawaii 1, Sacred Hearts 0
Nanea Wong Yuen’s goal in the 46th minute did the trick for the top-seeded and Big Island D-II champion Warriors (12-4), who will try to improve on their runner-up finish of a year ago.
Kamehameha-Hawaii takes on a challenge from Kapaa in the semifinals today.
The unseeded Lancers dropped to 6-7 with the loss.
Kapaa 1, Kalaheo 0
Dina Hayes’ goal in the 54th minute lifted the unseeded Warriors (8-4-2) to victory over the fourth-seeded Mustangs.
Kalaheo, which won the OIA D-II title, fell to 4-8.
Kauai 8, Makua Lani Christian 0
The KIF champion and second-seeded Red Raiders got three goals from Kehela Ventura, two from Mia Takekuma and one each from Cheyann Fujii, Eryka Napoleon and Adriana Hernandez in the victory over the Big Isle’s Lions.
Kauai (13-0) moves on to today’s semifinals against five-time defending D-II state champion Hawaii Prep.
Unseeded Makua Lani Christian fell to 6-9-1.
Hawaii Prep 3, Pac-Five 0
Anela Cipriano scored twice and Bella Police notched one goal for Ka Makani (15-2-1), who came into the tournament unseeded after finishing in second place in the BIIF to Kamehameha-Hawaii.
Pac-Five, the ILH D-II champion and third seed, fell to 8-5.
