‘Iolani capitalized on the limited opportunities.
Spencer Ho scored in the 98th minute to lead top-seeded and defending champion ‘Iolani to a 1-0 double-overtime win over host Kapolei in Saturday’s quarterfinals of the Outrigger Resorts/HHSAA Division I Boys State Soccer Championships.
‘Iolani (10-1-2) advances to Friday’s semifinal against Kalani (13-1-1) at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
“If we can just knock the ball around and play our game it would create opportunities,” Ho said. “That happened to be the opportunity.”
Both teams were able to neutralize each other’s strengths and the defense on both sides made it difficult to establish a rhythm for the entire game.
“They had the better possession, we had the better counterattack,” said Kapolei coach Ryan Lau. “All in all, both teams were really organized and limited the other team’s chances in the final third. It came down to they made one more play than we did.”
Ho’s shot from about 35 yards out hit the left side of the goal in the second overtime, sending ‘Iolani’s bench onto the field in celebration. The game was about two minutes away from heading to a penalty kick shootout.
“Matt Parke played a good ball to me out wide, my teammate Riley (Sakamoto) told me to cut in, I took two touches,” Ho said. “I was still far out. I wanted to get 5 yards from the 18. I’ve practiced that shot before. I saw the keeper coming out, so I took a shot.”
Kapolei’s Shandon Hopeau had two great opportunities in the first overtime but missed. Kapolei goalkeeper Makana Breault smothered a Raiders attempt in the 83rd minute.
“Kapolei is a great team, putting a lot of pressure on us and we couldn’t get into our rhythm,” Ho said.
Up next is a Kalani squad that won its first-round and quarterfinal state tournament games on Maui.
“We got all our jitters out,” Ho said. “If we just knock the ball around, work on 1-2 touch passes, we’ll be fine.”
Kapolei finishes its season at 9-4-2.
Mililani 4, Kahuku 2
The second-seeded Trojans took a four-goal lead and held on to beat the Red Raiders in a quarterfinal game at Kapolei. Mililani advances to Friday’s semifinal against Punahou.
Jeron Cunningham (first minute), Tony Silva (19), MJ Matas (41) and Jared Choquette (46) scored for Mililani. Nathan Fuluvaka and Gabriel Pinheiro-Alves knocked in late goals in the 75th and 79th minutes for Kahuku.
Punahou 5, Kealakehe 1
John Jet Toner scored a hat trick — all three goals came in the second half — to carry the Buffanblu past the Waveriders.
After Kealakehe’s Tyler Deverse cut Punahou’s lead to 2-1 in the 47th minute, Toner scored in the 51st, then copied the feat in the 72nd and 78th minutes. Reyn Watanabe (26) and Duncan McKenna (34) staked the Buffanblu to a 2-0 lead.
Kalani 2, Kamehameha-Maui 1
The visiting Falcons got the game-winner from Rudi McClellan in the 50th minute and advanced to face top-seeded ‘Iolani in the semifinals.
Brennan Joaquin scored in the 25th minute to get the host Warriors on the board first, but Kalani’s Trevor Kakuda answered a goal a minute later to knot the game at 1 at halftime.
Consolation Bracket
At Kapolei High School
Baldwin 4, Hilo 0
Goals — Jaren Ariyoshi 28th; Benjamin Wuthrich 35th; Ariyoshi 70th; Tyler Cooper 76th.
At Kamehameha-Maui
Moanalua 3, Kalaheo 0
Goals — Blake Tom 16th; Dylan Cabalang 72nd; Cabalang 79th.
BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT
Division I
Saturday
At Kamehameha-Maui
Consolation
Moanalua 3, Kalaheo 0
Quarterfinals
Punahou 5, Kealakehe 1
Kalani 2, Kamehameha-Maui 1
At Kapolei
Consolation
Baldwin 4, Hilo 0
Quarterfinals
Mililani 4, Kahuku 2
‘Iolani 1, Kapolei 0
Friday
At Waipio Main Stadium
Games at 5 p.m., 7 p.m.
Saturday
At Waipio Main Stadium
Third place, 3 p.m.
Championship, 7 p.m.
Division II
At Waipio Main Stadium unless noted
Thursday
Kamehameha-Hawaii vs. Waianae/Seabury Hall, 1 p.m.
Kailua vs. Seabury Hall/Honokaa, 3 p.m.
Kapaa vs. Hawaii Prep, 5 p.m.
Mid-Pacific vs. Waipahu, 7 p.m.
Friday
Semifinals, 1 and 3 p.m.
Consolation games, 3 p.m., fields 7-8
Saturday
Third place, 1 p.m.,
Fifth place, 3 p.m. field 7
Championship, 5 p.m.
Note: Honokaa hosts Waianae in play-in game on Saturday. If Waianae wins, it plays KS-Hawaii. If Honokaa wins, it plays Kailua
