Punahou edges Iolani to open ILH season


Punahou reserve Jacob Moore netted the game-winning goal for the Buffanblu Tuesday afternoon. Michael Lasquero | SL

ALA WAI — Jacob Moore's goal off an assist from Dominic Gusman in the 76th minute lifted visiting Punahou to a 1-0 win over Iolani Tuesday afternoon.

The Buffanblu (1-0) opened defense of their Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I championship with a shut out of the Raiders (0-1) on a blustery day at Kozuki Stadium.

Moore, a reserve midfielder, came off the bench to net the game-winner. In the closing minutes, Gusman passed a ball to the left side of the 18-yard box, in the area of Liam Nichols-Shipley. The pass eventually found Moore, who fired a left-footed shot from about 15 yards out into the lower right corner of the goal, just past a diving Isaak Tanaka in goal for Iolani.

"I just remember Dom serving it in and it just deflecting off of either (Iolani center-back) Lincoln (Oishi) or (Punahou forward) Liam (Nichols-Shipley) and I was just there to clean it up, placed it bottom right corner," Moore said.

It was the first career varsity goal for Moore, who was called up from the junior varsity squad for the state tournament last season.

The Buffanblu controlled much of the second-half possession and had a number of scoring chances, but unable to capitalize on them until Moore's goal.



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].