All it took for the Kaiser boys soccer team to reach its first state final since 2011 was a touch of perfection.
Motoki Sato served up a perfect cross on a corner kick in the 49th minute that just cleared the many heads in the scrum and settled onto Noah Mokulehua’s noggin near the far post and into the goal to lead Kaiser over Baldwin 1-0 in the semifinals of the Queen’s Medical Center/HHSAA Boys Soccer State championships at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
“I practice it every practice, and I executed it almost perfectly so I knew it would be dangerous,” Sato said. “It was a perfect bending ball and all of the guys who know how to head the ball, that is what helps me out. I always try to curl back post or front, and if it is back post I know Noah is always going to get there.”
Indeed, Mokulehua was there. With the keeper out of the way, it was a simple act of letting the ball hit him in the head.
“I don’t even remember it that much,” Mokulehua said. “Motoki had a pretty nice cross and it was coming right to me, I just kept my eyes open and it went in.”
“It was perfect,” Kaiser head coach Layne Abalos said. “Motoki serving it in … Spencer (Burcham) also does it beautifully … we work on it in practice and Noah just has a head for the ball. He’s done it all season.”
Baldwin had most of its prime chances to that point but the action settled into the middle of the pitch afterward. The lead changed nothing about Kaiser’s game, and the Cougars continued to create chances against the Bears. Baldwin’s best chance came with five minutes left went Bears keeper Jorge Perez-Martin began taking free kicks on Kaiser’s side of the field and served up a ball that found Steven Jacob Hogin right in front of the goal with a clear shot after a scrum. Hogin popped his attempt high over the goal.
Perez-Martin got even bolder after that, roaming into Kaiser’s box to give them an extra attacker but Kaiser defenders David Cito-Rodrigues and Colin Wheatley snuffed every attack until the whistle blew to send the Cougars into the final for the first time in six seasons.
“We always wanted to be here and we always thought we could be here,” Abalos said. “We played together as a team and I think that is the key, everyone has bought in. We played as a team all season.”
Baldwin’s title journey ends in the semifinals for the fifth time since reaching the 1993 final, losing each time to ILH squads.
“It was even all the way, I don’t think they pressured us more than we pressured them.” Baldwin coach Kane Palazzotto said. “It is tough to lose like that, but I’m proud of the boys. I feel like, as the third seed, we are right there.”
DIVISION I
Friday
At Waipio Soccer Complex
Semifinals
Kaiser 1, Baldwin 0
Punahou 1, Kapolei 0, 2 OT
Consolation
Kealakehe 3, Pearl City 1.
Goal scorers: Keala—Laukoa Santos 3. PC—Peyton Wagner.
Mililani 2, ‘Iolani 1, PK
Goal scorers: Mili—Rusty Crowder. ‘Iol—Keanu Srivongsona.
Today
At Waipio Soccer Complex
Fifth place
Mililani vs. Kealakehe, 1 p.m., field 7
Third place
Baldwin vs. Kapolei, 3 p.m., field 7
Championship
Kaiser vs. Punahou, 7 p.m., Main stadium
DIVISION II
Friday
At Waipio Soccer Complex
Semifinals
Hawaii Prep 10, Kailua 1
Saint Louis 4, KS-Hawaii 2
Consolation
Makua Lani 1, Seabury 0
Goal scorer: ML—DJ Madigan.
Waimea 3, Farrington 0
Goal scorers: Waim—Justin Fune, Isaiah Duldulao, Carl Mecham.
Today
At Waipio Soccer Complex
Fifth place
Makua Lani vs. Waimea, 1 p.m., field 8
Third place
Kailua vs. KS-Hawaii, 3 p.m., field 8
Championship
Hawaii Prep vs. Saint Louis, 5 p.m., main stadium
