With a brick-wall defense and a skilled passing game, Pac-Five derailed Waialua’s dream season.
The Wolfpack (5-7-2) dominated from start to finish in a 6-0 victory on Thursday in the Division II quarterfinals of the Outrigger Resorts/HHSAA Girls Soccer State Championships at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
After taking a 2-0 halftime lead, Pac-Five kicked into gear after the break with four goals in a 10-minute span to pull away from the OIA D-II champion and fourth-seeded Bulldogs (5-7-2).
"I’d like to thank our league," Wolfpack coach Les Gusman said. "We play the D-I teams — Punahou, Kamehameha and ‘Iolani — twice. It can only help us get better and develop our character."
Gusman said all 22 Pac-Five girls play in every game.
Although the Wolfpack offense had a field day, team defense kept Waialua from gaining ground, and center fullback Nadine Muyano successfully shadowed Bulldogs offensive threat Cierra-Lynn Ramirez, the OIA’s D-II leading scorer.
"We didn’t allow the through balls much and when we did, Nadine (and others on the back line) were there to stop her (Ramirez)," Wolfpack assistant Maikel Tsuji said.
Goals in the 17th and 29th minutes by Mikayla Soto and Breanne Ihara gave Pac-Five a relatively comfortable 2-0 lead.
After that, the Bulldogs held tough until the 61st minute, when Asia Ono drilled a 28-yard direct kick into the top right corner.
The goals came in bunches after that.
Jamie Saito outraced Waialua goalkeeper Keahi Pang to a bounding ball before depositing it into the back of the net.
Then, the Wolfpack scored on two crosses — Chelsie DePonte from Ono, and Kayla Kunihisa from Muyano.
"I think we ran out of gas in the second half," Waialua coach Tim Kawahakui said. "After a couple of (second-half) goals, we lost confidence. But, as a coach, I have nothing to complain about after going 0-10 last year and starting 0-6 this year."
It appeared the Bulldogs’ Ramirez had a strong chance in the final few minutes on a run up the middle toward a through ball, but Pac-Five ‘keeper Kalli-Ann Takafuji booted the ball away just in time.
"It’s a relief (to get the win)," the Wolfpack’s Muyano said. "We knew they were the OIA champs and that they’ve scored a lot of goals. We played our hardest and got the win."
Hawaii Prep 1, Kauai 0
Bri Vallente scored in the 64th minute to push top-seeded Ka Makani past the Red Raiders in a quarterfinal.
Hawaii Prep moves on to play Pac-Five in the semifinals Friday.
Kauai fell to 9-3-3.
Kapaa 1, KS-Hawaii 0
Kaisha Davis-Caberto scored in overtime to lead the KIF champion Warriors (10-1-3) to a quarterfinal victory over the Warriors from the Big Isle.
Davis-Caberto struck in the 86th minute for third-seeded Kapaa, which moves on to play second-seeded Mid-Pacific in the semifinals Friday.
Kamehameha-Hawaii dropped to 8-5-1.
Mid-Pacific 5, Kalani 0
Five different players — Kristyn Oshiro, Coby Yoshimura, Janaye Shepherd, Nicole Baltazar and Natalia Gosiaco — scored for the second-seeded Owls (6-5-2), who advance to play Kapaa in Friday’s semifinals.
The Falcons fell to 5-7-2.
Consolation
Nanakuli 2, St. Anthony 0
Waipahu 2, Honokaa 0
Goal scorers–Nana: Rayna Santiago, Chevyn Rae Morgan. Waip:
