Kauai, Leilehua, Makua Lani advance to quarters


ScoringLive staff
February 8, 2018, 2:56am

Kauai's Mia Takekuma (left), Leilehua's Gabrielle Sanchez (center) and Makua Lani's Halle Nottage (right) all came out victorious Wednesday afternoon to advance in the D2 state tournament along with their respective teams. Brien Ing | SL

WAIPAHU — Opening round play of the 2018 Outrigger Hotels & Resorts/HHSAA Girls Soccer Division II State Championships kicked off Wednesday afternoon at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex with Leilehua, Kauai, Makua Lani and Hawaii Prep all advancing to Thursday afternoon's quarterfinals with matchups against the four seeded league champions.

Oahu Interscholastic Association fourth place finisher Leilehua (5-9) took on Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up Le Jardin (3-11), and it was the Mules with the 1-0 win off of Chae-Leigh Ramirez's goal in the 61st minute.

Kauai Interscholastic Federation runner-up Kauai (10-2-1) was victorious, 3-0, over Maui Interscholastic League representative Seabury Hall (2-8-1). The Red Raiders' trio of goals were netted by Tia Fulks (6'), Janelle Puplava (18') and Mia Takekuma (75').

In the final match of the afternoon, Big Island Interscholastic Federation third place finisher Makua Lani (6-7-1) edged OIA runner-up Radford (4-8-1), 2-1, with Ilinahe Beatty's game winner in the 74th minute. The Rams got on the board first with Hannah Heffelfinger's goal in the 44th minute before the Lions' Halle Nottage hit the equalizer a few minutes later in the 47th minute.

Four-time defending D2 state champion Hawaii Prep (12-2) was scheduled to take on OIA third place finisher Nanakuli (3-9-2), but it was annouced Wednesday morning that the Golden Hawks would be forfeiting the match and withdrawing from the state tournament citing a "lack of eligible players."

All Thursday quarterfinal matches are scheduled for 3 p.m. at the various fields at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.

Leilehua takes on top-seeded BIIF champ Kamehameha-Hawaii (10-4) at Field No. 9 with the winner meeting the victor of Kauai and fourth-seeded Kailua (7-5), who will be at Field No. 10.

On the other side of the bracket, Makua Lani plays second seed KIF champ Kapaa (10-1-1) at Field No. 7, and Hawaii Prep squares off with third-seeded ILH winner Sacred Hearts (8-4) at Field No. 12.

In the consolation bracket, Le Jardin takes on Seabury Hall at 1 p.m. on Field No. 9. The winner will play Radford Saturday at 3 p.m. on Field No. 9.