ILH Boys Soccer
Raiders remain perfect with 4-2 win over Buffanblu


  



Tue, Jan 21, 2014 @ Iolani


Final 1st 2nd OT 2OT PK Tot
Punahou (11-5-3) 0 0 - - - 2
Iolani (17-0-1) 0 0 - - - 4
A. Espinoza (2)   M. Ching    K. Ahlo    K. Makekau    T. Leong

Four different players scored a goal to lift Iolani to a 4-2 win over Punahou in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I boys soccer game Tuesday.

The Raiders, who have already clinched the ILH title and the league's top berth into the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Boys Soccer State Championships, improved to 10-0 and beat their rival for the second time this season. The Buffanblu, who have not won since Jan. 4, fell to 4-3-2 with their second consecutive loss.

"There's still a lot of games to play, still a lot of time before the state tournament so we still want to stay sharp," said Iolani coach Chris Lee, who played his starters for most the game.

An afternoon crowd of about 150 fans at the Raiders' Kozuki Stadium saw the hosts take a 2-0 lead before allowing two Punahou goals in a three-minute span to tie it early in the second half before scoring a pair of late goals in the final eight minutes.

"It shows a lot of heart being able to come back after being up 2-0, then getting down 2-2," Lee said. "We just told them to keep playing their game, to keep trying to put pressure on Punahou and hopefully sooner or later we would get one and we were fortunate that we did."

The Buffanblu, who trailed 1-0 at halftime, quickly fell behind 2-0 on a KJ Ahlo goal in the first minute of the second half. The score was set-up by Spencer Ho, who sent a cross to the far post, where Ahlo headed it into the net. It was his 11th goal of the season.

However, Punahou answered with a pair goals by Antonio Espinoza in the 48th and 51st minutes to tie it.

The Raiders appeared to take the lead back in the 69th minute when Dillon Waidyatilleka put away a loose ball in front of the Punahou goal, but it was waived off. Minutes later, however, Timmy Leong left no doubt on his header to put Iolani ahead 3-2. The scoring play originated off a corner kick — one of six the Raiders took in the second half.

Iolani added an insurance goal in the 78th minute by Keoni Makekau.

"It's very nice to be able to find scoring in different ways," Lee said. "We scored off a set piece, we scored off a run. I think the more ways we can score and the more people that are scoring, I think the more dangerous we can be."

Max Ching opened the scoring for Iolani in the 17th minute — one of four first-half shots on goals for the Raiders. Iolani had eight shots on goal for the game to Punahou's four. The Raiders have not outscored the opposition by a margin of 51 goals scored to just four goals allowed.

Punahou entered Tuesday in second place, one point ahead of both Kamehameha and Pac-Five.

The Raiders visit Mid-Pacific Friday and host Pac-Five next Wednesday to wrap up the regular season. The Buffanblu finish with games against Damien, Saint Louis and Kamehameha.



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




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