Mililani hands Campbell its first loss, 4-0

Mililani's Cassandra Stetser knocks home the opening goal scored against Campbell. Sylvia Lee | SL

EWA BEACH - Playing with a sense of urgency, defending O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red champion Mililani stormed out of the gate and knocked off previously unbeaten Campbell, 4-0, Friday night in Western Division girls' soccer at the Sabers' field.

The Trojans (6-1) pulled to within a half-game of the first-place Sabers (7-1) in the West.

Campbell, which entered the game having allowed only two goals and had shut out opponents in its previous five games, was tagged for three first-half goals, the first two coming within the first six minutes. Senior forward Cassandra Stetser accounted for two of the first half-goals.

"We worked really hard at practice and we were determined to win," Stetser said. "We knew (the Sabers) were a strong team."

Just three minutes into the game, the Trojans scored on Stetser's head from six yards out off a corner kick. Three minutes later, Robyn Peiler drilled a shot from about 25 yards out to give the Trojans a commanding 2-0 lead. It was a surprise considering the Sabers were coming off a shutout against Kapolei a week earlier.

"Anytime you come against a team like Campbell, No. 1 team right now in the Red Division, you come up with a goal against them, it gives you that momentum," Mililani coach Ray Akiona said. "It gives you the encouragement to stay on the same track. That early goal really inspired us."

In the 17th minute, it was Stetser again, this time using her head and foot. She headed a pass from Kayla Braunthal, but it was deflected by the goalkeeper just in front of the goal line, where Stetser kicked in the short goal to make it 3-0.

"We started off the game a little tense," Sabers' second-year coach Brett Kagawa said. "We weren't quite ready. We were a bit timid at times. Eventually we got out of it. Unfortunately, it came after a couple of goals."

The Trojans' final goal came at the 73rd minute by Tia Furuta.

More impressive was Mililani's defense. The Sabers could never mount a consistent attack on the Trojans' goal because of Mililani's fullback line of Alyssa Stiles, Brittany McClay and Kanoe Morihara. They deftly cut off passes and out-ran the Sabers toward the ball on long passes.

"The defense puts its heart and soul into it," Akiona said. "They're the most unsung heroes you have in the sport. We have a bunch of girls committed to played with each other. The line never gave up and they supported each other. You have to give them credit for the wins."

"Definitely for a while, we had trouble stringing passes together," said Kagawa, ironically, a Mililani graduate who is familiar with the Trojans' rich soccer history.

The Trojans have another contender coming up when they host 'Aiea Tuesday. The Sabers also face another tough test when they host Pearl City Friday.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].