Iolani keeper Katie Yuu makes a big stop of a Punahou shot on goal during the penalty kick shootout. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Iolani's Kama Pascua attempts to head the ball as Punahou keeper Noelani Kong-Johnson attempts to make the save. Pascua would score the equalizing goal moments later. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Punahou's Sammy Nishiyama attempts to dribble past an Iolani defender. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Iolani's Megan Goo (12) and Kama Pascua (2) battle Punahou's Dani Stollar (14) and Hi'ilani Thomas (5) for control of the ball Sean Nakamura | SL

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Iolani players pile on top of each other after defeating Punahou in the shootout, 4-1. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Brien Ing | SL

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Fri, Jan 25, 2013 @ Kamehameha

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Iolani

2

Punahou

1

Final/PK	1st	2nd	OT	2OT	PK	Tot
Iolani (14-1-1)	0	0	0	0	0	2
Punahou (13-3-1)	0	0	0	0	0	1

K. Pascua    S. Nishiyama

Iolani goalkeeper Katie Yuu stopped the first two shots by Punahou in penalty kicks, helping to lift the Raiders to a 4-1 edge over the Buffanblu in the shootout, and its first league crown since 1999.

"I'm new to this team" said Yuu, a freshman just added to the Iolani varsity roster a few days earlier, "so it felt amazing to stop them (the two shots in penalty kicks)."

The Buffanblu struck first with Sammy Nishiyama's goal off of a nifty pass by Liana Lau in the 17th minute, but the lead was short-lived as the Raiders quickly equalized on a jump ball in front of the Punahou goal that was knocked home by Kama Pascua just two minutes later.

Game tempo seemed to normalize somewhat following Pascua's equalizing score, but remained a very physical one, and both teams remained in an almost constant mode of attack.

Despite the wide-open style of play offensively, only a few key opportunities at scores presented themselves within regulation time.

Punahou's Dempsey Banks took a wide-open shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the attempted sailed wide.

In the 61st minute, Alyssa Kim's long run down the right sideline culminated with a skipping shot on goal that was saved by Punahou keeper Noelani Kong-Johnson.

A corner kick in the the 78th by the Raiders was plucked off the bounce by Kong-Johnson to thwart any attempt at a shot.

With the score remained knotted at 1-all at the end of the second half, the game would head into the first overtime period.

And just two minutes into the extra period, Kim placed a nice pass on the wing that was recieved by Pascua, who rounded her defender and blasted a shot on goal from about 15 yards out.

"When I took it, I thought it was going in," laughed Pascua on her shot attempt in the first overtime. "I was so sure it was going in, and I guess it was heartbreaking in a way because we could have won and totally avoided all these nerves."

Iolani's best chance at the game-winner rocketed over the head of the Punahou keeper on a downward trajectory, but slammed the crossbar of the goal and ricocheted away.

The score remained tied at the end of the first overtime, and the crowd of around 300 at Kunuiakea Stadium buckled up for yet another 10 minutes of anxiousness.

Overtime number two saw Punahou outshoot Iolani by a 4-2 margin, which included a golden opportunity to end it as the Iolani keeper would lose control of the ball on a sliding save attempt, and watched as the ball trickled away with at least two Punahou players within legshot.

But the Buffanblu never found a clean shot, and the second overtime period came to a close with score still even.

Dana Lim opened up the shootout by knocking home the opening salvo to give Iolani the early advantage. Then, on Punahou's first chance Yuu leaned in the right direction and was able to deflect the attempt away for a big-time save.

"The coach pretty much knew which was she (the Punahou kicker) was going so she told me and I just followed her (directions)," said Yuu sheepishly.

Taylor Kipilii's boot into the back of the net put the Raiders up a commanding 2-0, and on the ensuing Punahou try, it was Yuu once again coming up with the huge save on the Buffanblu's second shot in PKs.

"We've been practicing PKs a lot for the last couple of days," said Iolani head coach Kristin Masunaga. "And at practice she stops them."

Masuaga added, "I just told her be confident she's going to go out there and stop some shots, and that's exactly what she did."

Hi'ilani Thomas beat the keeper on the Buffanblu's third penalty kick, but Iolani would make good on all four of its attempts in the shootout, with Jill Shimabuku first, and Kylie Takafuji putting on the final touches in the shootout.

"It meant the world to us," said Pascua. "We got to earn it (the ILH title) and we played with all our hearts so this definitely means a lot to us. Everyone is just so happy that we're finally getting our banner."