When Kamehameha is in it, it always has a chance to win it.

The ILH runner-up Warriors earned a spot in the state final against Aiea with a win over Mililani. Kamehameha didn’t make the state tournament last year but won it the year before and seven times overall.

"This means a lot for us. We are really excited to be where we know we deserve to be after all of our hard work," Kamehameha senior defender Shyann Moriguchi said. "We came to all of the games last year, but it was really hard not playing."

Kamehameha earned a throw-in deep in Mililani territory in the 38th minute that Moriguchi deposited softly over a Mililani wall and into the center of the box. Junior defender Sarah Lau was the first to the ball and directed it into the goal with her right foot.

Kamehameha scored again two minutes later when Janelle Stone got a run through Mililani’s defense, appeared to dribble the ball like a basketball once with her right hand, then unleashed a powerful shot into the top left of the goal to make it 2-0, just seconds before the half.

"Kamehameha deserved it," said Mililani coach Ray Akiona, who has never lost to an OIA team at states but never beaten an ILH foe. "They came out strong, the intensity was there and they were committed to everything. We tried to keep up with that pace and got caught out of position a couple of times and it hurt us."

There was only one save in the first half, by Mililani keeper Tasalina Leoso, but the Warriors outshot the Trojans 7-0. Kamehameha had two chances go wide.

Kamehameha effectively iced it when Kiani Halushka drilled a shot from the top of the box that Leoso got both hands on but couldn’t corral. Kawailani Makue one-timed the rebound over Leoso’s shoulder and into the net for a 3-0 lead 44 minutes into the match.

Tia Furuta answered with a goal for Mililani four minutes later. Emma Young squelched the revolt with a header in the 55th minute for Kamehameha’s fourth score.

All the Warriors have done since giving up two first-half goals to Castle in the first round is outscore opponents 14-1. That is a far cry from the team that lost the ILH title to ‘Iolani in the final game of the regular season.

"I think (Castle) woke up a sleeping giant," Kamehameha coach Melissa Moore said. "I think we needed that to kind of wake us up and realize ‘Hey, this is states. This is one mistake and you can be out.’ "

Goal scorers: KS-Kapalama: Sarah Lau (37:11), Janelle Stone (39:50), Kawaiualani Makue (44:30), Emma Young (55:30). Mililani—Tia Furuta (48:45)

D-I CONSOLATION

‘Iolani 6, Konawaena 0

Goal scorers: Iolani—Megan Goo (5:00, 10:00), Kristen Hori (12:00), Nikki Mitsuyasu (14:00), Shantel Torres-Benito (27:00), Sarah Oyadomari (42:00).

KS-Maui 2, Pearl City 0

Goal scorers: KS-Maui—Tynell Ornellas (17:00), Clara-Josephine Medeiros (79:00).