Kaiser's Makana Srivongsana works the ball against Kalani's Kai Sigler in the regular season meeting between the two teams on Jan. 17. Leighland Tagawa | SL

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_18020256_kaisklnigow.jpg - Leighland Tagawa | SL

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For the third time in five years, the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I boys soccer final will be an all-East affair when rivals Kalani and Kaiser face off Saturday night.

The Falcons and Cougars, ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings, bring identical 11-0-1 records into the 7 p.m. match at Kapolei's Alvin Nagasako Athletic Complex.

It will be the second time the teams have met on the pitch in a three-week span. The previous meeting — a regular-season game at Kaiser on Jan. 17 — resulted in a 1-1 tie.

Kalani was ahead in that matchup after Jason Strambu's header late in the first half. However, Kaiser pulled even just minutes before the end of regulation on a goal by Bay Nickerson.

The Falcons are eager for a second chance Saturday.

"We're going to take them as hard as we can," junior midfielder Brison Kim said. "We were up 1-0 for most of the game when we played against them, so we're going to go at them again and try to get the championship."

Kim netted the lone goal in Kalani's semifinal win over No. 7 Mililani Thursday, off an assist from Strambu. It was Kim's team-leading eighth goal this season.

The win over the Trojans was especially redeeming after the Falcons allowed two goals in the final six minutes when the teams played in an OIA semifinal last season. Mililani came back to win that game, 3-2.

"I think definitely last year played a role into this year, just as a learning lesson, a learning curve, that no one-goal lead is safe," Kalani co-coach Brandon Chun said after his team handed the Trojans their first loss this season Thursday night.

"Definitely, I think we game planned defensively, if we're up 1-0, changing our formation to a little more defense, and I think our back four did an outstanding job. They definitely have more experience from last year coming into this year," Chun said.

The back line of Casey, Kai Sigler, Keoni Ichiyama and Noah Camacho have anchored a defense that has allowed just one goal this season.

The same, however, is true of the Cougars, who held Moanalua to just two shots on goal in a 3-0 semifinal win Thursday night.

As good as its defense has been, the unit — and the team as a whole — has been hit hard by injuries this postseason. Among the walking wounded are seniors Noah Mokulehua, Colin Wheatley and Brian Arseneau.

With the availability of the trio in question, Cougars coach Layne Abalos said the quartet of Tytan Yamanaka, Riki Sakai, Kyler Halvorsen and Chad Gakiya are among those who will have to share the load.

"We're so banged up, but hopefully our guys can pull through. I think we're confident playing-wise, but it's just that we've got a lot of injuries, so it's going to be interesting (Saturday). I had to play around with the lineup tonight," Abalos said following Thursday's win over Na Menehune.

One player that Abalos can count on for Saturday is Makana Srivongsana. The senior forward is arguably the state's most dangerous offensive threat, having scored 49 goals in his first two seasons. His team-leading 17 goals this season is tied for the state lead.

"Kaiser is a heck of a team. Our last game against Kaiser was a battle and I think it's going to be just as tough as game, but the fact that it's our rival, makes it, I guess, for all the bragging rights for the rest of the year," Chun said.

Each school has one OIA title to its credit at the other's expense. Kaiser beat Kalani, 3-1, in the 2014 final. Two years later, the Falcons defeated the Cougars for the league championship, 1-0.

Saturday's game will be preceded by the D2 final between Kalaheo and McKinley at 5 p.m.