Alicia Chang scored on a header in the 46th minute and Kaiser beat Mililani 1-0 at Kaiser to punch its ticket to states and reach the semifinals of the OIA girls soccer tournament on Wednesday night.

Chang, a senior defender, moves into the box for set plays for the Cougars. She took a throw from Noelle Mercado and spun it past Mililani keeper Tasa Leoso.

"It hits my head every single time," Chang said. "It’s just a matter if I can flick it or not. She has such good accuracy with her throws. We have scored a lot lately on set plays like that."

It turned out to be the one big play that mattered in a rematch of last year’s OIA championship match, a 2-0 win for Mililani. The Trojans have won four of the last five league titles, while Kaiser hasn’t finished on top since 1997.

"I think it was a missed assignment, where we allowed somebody to touch the ball first," Mililani coach Ray Akiona said. "When you are playing an aggressive team like Kaiser, whoever gets to it first is going to do well with it."

Chang, who is listed as the backup keeper, scored the lone goal but made her greatest impact on the other end of the field. As the last line of defense in front of Kaiser keeper Corina Edgington, Chang cleared 21 balls out of the box, 12 of them in the second half, including one in front of an empty net.

"She is such a valuable player for us," Kaiser coach Adolph Samuels said. "You need somebody to clear balls out and you need someone tough enough to head the ball into the goal, and we rely on her to do both. She did unreal tonight; she got us out of trouble so many times."

Mililani (9-3) entered the game with the OIA’s most lethal offensive attack, having scored 15 goals in its last three games and more than four in six of their nine wins. The Trojans were shut out for just the second time this season, but that had as much to do with Chang and the rest of the Kaiser defense. The Cougars’ back line has played together since small-kid time for the Crush Sports Academy in club ball, and earned their eighth shutout in 11 games.

"We always have each other’s backs," Chang said. "If one steps the wrong way, we are always there to clear it for each other. We work so well together back there and it strings up to the mids and the offense. The chemistry is there."

Kaiser (10-1) pushed the action in the first half, but Mililani had the wind advantage and outshot them 9-5. When Kaiser had the wind, it outshot the Trojans 8-5.

The Cougars move west today to play Kapolei at Kapolei for a spot in the OIA title match. The Hurricanes knocked Kaiser out in a deluge in the semifinals two years ago, also on their home field.

"I think it’s going to be a good match," Chang said. "I was watching and they string passes and keep the ball on the ground really well, especially on our field. If they can do it on their field, they can do it anywhere."

Mililani plays Moanalua with a state berth on the line.

"He’s going to get there," Samuels said. "I know (Akiona) and he’s going to pull it out (today) and he is going to get there. He always does."

KAPOLEI 2, MOANALUA 0

Jozette Cortez scored in the third minute and the Hurricanes shut out Na Menehune. Jenna Tomei added another goal with the wind at her back for Kapolei (10-1), which earned a return trip to the state tournament after missing out last year.

Moanalua (9-3) plays Mililani today at Pearl City with a state berth on the line.

PEARL CITY 1, CAMPBELL 0

Tasha Inong scored the game’s only goal to lead the Chargers, the West’s fifth seed, to an upset of West No. 1 Campbell in the quarterfinals. Pearl City will face East No. 2 Castle in today’s semifinal at Kapolei.

CASTLE 1, AIEA 0

Destinne Hanaike scored the game’s lone goal to lead the Knights over Na Alii, the third seed out of the West, in a quarterfinal match.

OIA WHITE

KALAHEO 1, RADFORD 0

Mayumi Ishikawa scored in overtime as the Mustangs advanced to the championship match with a win over the Rams at Leilehua.

Kalaheo, the East’s top seed, will face West No. 1 Leilehua in Friday’s 5 p.m. championship at Kapolei.

LEILEHUA 2, NANAKULI 1

Shayla Padilla scored twice to lead the host Mules over the Golden Hawks in a semifinal game. Ella Kakiva scored for Nanakuli.