Grover's golden goal rallies Waiakea past Kalaheo in OT

Greg Yamamoto | SL

WAIPAHU — John Grover's golden goal in the 87th minute lifted third-seeded Waiakea to a 2-1 overtime win over Kalaheo at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex Thursday afternoon.

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Warriors, who are ranked ninth in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Boys Soccer Power Rankings, improved to 11-2-1 on the season and advanced to Friday's semifinal round of The Queen's Medical Center/HHSAA Division I State Championships.

The fifth-ranked Mustangs, who finished fourth in the Oahu Interscholastic Association tournament, fell to 11-4. They have now dropped four of their last six games.

Kalaheo took the lead in the 13th minute on a Jack Bright goal, the fourth on the season for the junior midfielder/defender.

However, Waiakea got the equalizer from senior forward/midfielder Kai Biegler in the 31st minute to send the game into halftime tied.

The score held through the end of regulation before Grover, a four-year starter and captain, put a ball into the back of the net seven minutes into the extra period.

Waiakea was coming off of a bye as one of four seeded teams. Thursday's quarterfinal marked its first state tournament appearance since 2018, when it was eliminated in the first round by Mililani.

The Warriors will get a shot at redemption when they meet the Trojans in the 5 p.m. semifinal Friday at the Waipio main stadium.

Kalaheo reached the quarterfinals by virtue of its win in PKs over Iolani in Monday's opening round. The Mustangs, who were in Division II a season ago, will meet No. 2 seed Kapolei in a 3 p.m. consolation match on field No. 15 Friday.

The previously-undefeated Hurricanes were upset by OIA West-rival Mililani, 1-0, Thursday.