Unseeded ‘Iolani is a win away from unfamiliar territory.

Senior Krystal Pascua scored in the 34th minute and junior Samantha Dacanay came up with the key insurance goal in the second half as the Raiders defeated No. 3 seed Baldwin 2-0 yesterday in the quarterfinals of the JN Automotive Group/HHSAA Girls Soccer State Championships at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

‘Iolani (11-1-2) will face No. 2 seed Mililani (15-0-2) today at 5 p.m. in the first semifinal. If the Raiders can hand a second straight team their first loss of the season, they will advance to their first state title game since 1999.

"Definitely, we just have to keep our game up and our intensity up," said Pascua, who has three goals in two tournament games. "I think we were a little off (yesterday), but we’ll be sure to play better (today)."

Some of the girls who played yesterday were only 3 years old the last time ‘Iolani won a state championship in girls soccer.

They won’t have to look very far for advice as ‘Iolani head coach Kristin Masunaga and assistants Jodi Tanga and Jamie Shoma were key players on the ’99 team that beat Kamehameha in the final.

Masunaga is well aware of the difficulty in winning four games in four days and rotated players in and out frequently.

Eighteen different Raiders got playing time yesterday.

"Our main concern is keeping everyone healthy because we’ve had to play one more game than all the (seeded teams)," Masunaga said.

‘Iolani won its opening game on Wednesday on one of the playing fields adjacent to the main stadium, where the Raiders got their first taste of yesterday.

After a slow start in which both teams struggled to find any scoring chances, ‘Iolani began to take control midway through the first half.

In the 34th minute, freshman Emily Tanaka used her speed to beat a defender down the sideline and sent a perfect crossing pass to the middle of the box that Pascua headed in for a 1-0 lead.

"It happened really fast but Emily took it down and made a great pass and I headed it," Pascua said.

‘Iolani’s defense made goalkeeper Lexi Felix’s job easy in the first half, but the Bears (15-1-1) tested her with two quick shots on goal in the first 7 minutes after halftime.

Baldwin began to control the ball more and found open spots in the ‘Iolani defense. However, the Raiders answered with a quick counter in the 58th minute and Dacanay banged in a crossing pass to give ‘Iolani a commanding two-goal lead.

"We’ve been having a tendency to start off our second halves slow," Masunaga said. "We’ve improved in that we’ve been able to get the momentum back as opposed to some of our ILH games when they dominated us the whole way in the second half."

Tonight’s winner will face either Kahuku or No. 1 seed Punahou in tomorrow’s championship game beginning at 7 p.m.

OTHER QUARTERFINALS

Mililani 2, Pearl City 1 (4-2 PKs)

A game between rivals went the distance and more.

After a 1-1 tie in 80 minutes of regulation and two more scoreless 10-minute overtime periods, the Trojans outlasted the Chargers to advance.

Mililani trailed for the first time this season.

Kristen Fujinaga, Mimi Nakagawa, Cori Komigawa and Brooke Yoshimura made their penalty kicks.

Pearl City’s Alix Sua and Kelsie Ng made their penalty kicks. The Chargers’ first shooter missed wide right, and the fourth was denied by Lauren Ishii.

"We just want our keeper to make that one save," Mililani coach Ray Akiona said.

On her winning kick, Yoshimura said. "We practice a lot for this. It’s all preparation and practice. I had to focus and picture my shot going in."

Mililani is the Oahu Interscholastic Association champion; Pearl City is the OIA’s No. 5 team. Both play in the OIA Red West.

In the 51st, Christina Maeda scored from inside the box to put Pearl City up 1-0.

"Pearl City taking the lead on us, they put us in a situation we haven’t been in before," said Akiona. "But this team has a lot of character."

Mililani’s Lauren Uehara tied it in the 72nd minute by knocking in a shot from in close. The ball was sent into a crowd just in front of the goal with players from both teams having a chance to make a play. The ball bounced to Uehara, who finished the play.

Mililani plays ‘Iolani in the semifinals today at 5 p.m. Pearl City will face Baldwin today at 3 p.m.

Kahuku 3, Hilo 1

Shanice Moe and Genie Hyatt scored in the first half and senior Alana Aluli put the game away with a goal in the 76th minute to lead the Red Raiders past the fourth-seeded Vikings.

Hilo’s Tiffany Kerr scored in the fourth minute to briefly tie the game, but the Red Raiders, who earned the OIA’s sixth and final OIA state tournament berth, had enough firepower to turn back the BIIF champions.

Kahuku faces two-time defending state champion Punahou into tonight’s semifinal match at 7 p.m.

CONSOLATION

Moanalua 3, Kaiser 2

Sophomore midfielder Nalea Trujilo scored in the 67th minute to snap a 2-2 tie, lifting Na Menehune (14-2-2) over the Cougars (8-7-2).

Sophomore midfielder Storm Kenui scored twice for Moanalua, while freshman Alea Amano and sophomore Courtney Okazaki scored for Kaiser.

Kapolei 2, Kealakehe 0

Junior defender Hailey Berg scored in the first half and junior midfielder Kelsey Wright in the second half to power the Hurricanes (10-4-3) past the Waveriders (8-4-2).

Freelance writer Kyle Sakamoto contributed to this report

DIVISION I GIRLS STATE SOCCER

At Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex

Yesterday
Quarterfinals
» Kahuku 3, Hilo 1
» ‘Iolani 2, Baldwin 0
» Punahou 1, Kamehameha-Maui 0, OT
» Mililani 2, Pearl City 1, (4-2 in penalty kicks)
Consolation bracket
» Moanalua 3, Kaiser 2
» Kapolei 2, Kealakehe 0

Today
Semifinals
» ‘Iolani (11-1-2) vs. Mililani (14-0-2), 5 p.m.
» Kahuku (9-6-3) vs. Punahou (11-1-1), 7 p.m.
Consolation bracket
» Hilo (12-1-2) vs. KS-Maui (15-2-1), 3 p.m., Field 7
» Baldwin (15-1-1) vs. Pearl City (11-4-3), 3 p.m. Field 8

Tomorrow
Consolation
Moanalua (14-2-2) vs. Kapolei (10-4-3), 3 p.m. Field 7
Fifth place
Friday’s consolation bracket winners, 3 p.m., Field 8
Third place
Friday’s semifinal losers, 3 p.m, main stadium
Championship
Friday’s semifinal winners, 7 p.m., main stadium