Punahou's Noah Willimas battles with Iolani's Cole Tuisamatatele for possession. CJ Caraang | SL

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012815__MG_0012.jpg - CJ Caraang | SL

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Makiki - Not exactly the result either Iolani or Punahou wanted, but they'll take it.

The Buffanblu and Raiders played to a 1-1 tie in a Wednesday afternoon match at Alexander field, keeping the separation between the two division leaders at just two points.

"I thought Punahou came out a little bit harder and they created that opportunity off their set pieces," Iolani head coach Chris Lee said. "When we finally settled into the game and made some adjustments we were able to create that shot."

"Iolani's a great team so if we can get out of it with a tie I'll be happy with it and in all honesty they out played us today," Punahou head coach David Trifonovich said. "They (Iolani) had good possessions, they didn't have as great opportunities, but neither did we. The possession game was in their favor, but you have to give credit where credit is due they're a good team and to get a tie we can't be upset with it we just got to move forward."

The Buffanblu scored first off a set piece in the 11th minute of the match. After an Iolani foul in their own third of the field. Punahou's Bennett Ho struck a ball from about 35-yards out into the scrum where it found the head of senior Steven Yoshimoto to break the scoring seal.

"It's a great feeling, but it's attributed to my teammates. We worked hard to get the foul, my teammate played a great ball into me, I saw it and headed it in," Yoshimoto said about the play.

Later in the half Iolani's coach Lee turned to his bench and subbed in mid-fielder Keoni Simon. Moments later in the 28th minute Simon got his first touch when he settled the ball and struck a wicked left-footer from about 23 yards out that found its way past the keeper and into the back of the net.

"We have a running joke on the team about super subs. Us guys on the bench who come in and get worked on," Simon joked. "The ball came to me and I kind of panicked a little bit. I touched it forward and the guy gave me some space. My mind went blank, I just kicked it with my left, and it went in."

Simon's goal stood as the final goal of the half and sent the two teams into intermission tied at one.

The second half could be broken down into two halves in itself. Iolani controlled and had more of the opportunities early on of the second half (two corners and two shots on goal). Then at about the 65th minute senior Ronnie Bartenstein picked up his second yellow card that instantly became a red card which meant Iolani had to continue the final 15 minutes without its tallest defender and down a player.

"I thought it changed the dynamic of the game. At that point of the game we were maintaining good possession and that call changed the whole game," coach Lee said.

Punahou tried desperately to push forward in the final minutes, but were denied by Iolani's defense and the play of goalkeeper Danny Leong.

"We had some chances and we panicked a little bit," coach Trifonovich said. Punahou had been riding a five-game winning streak prior to the game with their last lost coming to Iolani back on December 27th.

With the tie the defending state champion Raiders (7-1-1) hold onto the first spot in the ILH D1 with 22 points while Punahou (6-2-2) kept pace with 20 points.

Iolani will have more opportunities to pick up wins with three games remaining, beginning with Damien on Saturday at 2 p.m., while Punahou has two games left starting with Saint Louis on Saturday at 10 a.m.

"It was definitely a learning experience," Simon said. "We're going to have a little more fire when we come out we'll hope Punahou's ready for that."

"We lost to Iolani the first time around. Although we didn't get the ‘W' I'm satisfied with a tie for now," Yoshimoto said.

It's safe to say there will be some unfinished business when these two rivals meet again.