The Mililani girls soccer team isn’t quite ready to give up its OIA title just yet.
Cassandra Stetser scored twice in the first half and the Trojans dealt Campbell its first loss with a 4-0 shutout on the Sabers’ field on Friday.
"We were very focused and very determined to win this game; it was very important to us," Stetser said. "We were working very hard all week for this game."
Campbell (7-1) was coming off five straight shutouts, including a 1-0 win over Kapolei, but it took Mililani (6-1) just three minutes to break that streak. With Campbell coach Brett Kagawa imploring his girls to relax from the opening kickoff, Stetser rose over the defense and got a head on a corner kick to beat keeper Brittney Copp for a 1-0 lead. Mililani’s Robyn Peiler added another goal three minutes later on a laser from just outside the box.
"One of the things we wanted to do all season is come out really strong and be really focused," Mililani coach Ray Akiona said. "This is probably one of the first games where I saw everybody do that and give a concerted effort."
Stetser, who has scored in five of Mililani’s seven games this season and leads the team with 10 goals, made it 3-0 in the 17th minute off a free kick by Nicole Nishiki. Stetser got a head on a pinpoint pass from Kayla Braunthal, took it to the ground and flipped it in from point-blank range with her right foot.
Campbell settled down and had its chance but was rebuffed by Mililani keeper Tasa Leoso every time. The defending OIA champions have allowed only one goal all season, a penalty kick in a loss to Kapolei, and have outscored opponents 35-1.
Stetser was sent off with a yellow card after pushing Shanoa Wagner-Bright after a play and trading elbows with Ashlynn Chargualaf while setting up for the ensuing corner kick.
"It was a very physical game," Stetser said. "I just have to shake it off and not argue with the ref, just go with it."
The Trojans certainly went with it, with Leoso stopping a hot shot by Campbell’s Aliani Lorenzo and transitioning the ball up the field immediately. Tia Furuta blistered a ball in with her right foot to make it 4-0. After that it was just another countdown to a Mililani win. The Trojans have won the OIA in four of the past five years, and most years weren’t even pushed.
Campbell has never won the OIA Red but took the White in 2007.
"We spent this whole week preparing for Campbell," Akiona said. "Talk around town is that they are physical, athletic and good and they proved to be all three today. We needed all of our focus for today’s game."