Top seed Iolani edges Kealakehe in double OT, will face No. 4 Baldwin in semifinal Friday


Brian Bautista | SL

Three of the top four seeds in the Motiv8 Foundation/HHSAA Division I Boys Soccer State Championships are moving on to Friday's semifinals. 

In Thursday's quarterfinal round at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex, top seed and defending state champion Iolani edged Kealakehe, 2-1, in double overtime. Also, second-seeded Mililani, the No. 1 team in the ScoringLive Power Rankings, posted a 2-1 win over Kekaulike. Fourth-seeded Baldwin recorded a 2-1 victory over Kalani, while the only seeded team to lose was No. 3 seed Waiakea, which suffered a 4-1 defeat to Punahou. 

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Raiders (10-0-2) got goals from Devin Lee (25th minute) and Mike Kostecki (95th minute) to down the Big Island Interscholastic Federation runner-up Waveriders (9-3), whose lone goal was scored by Alex Maira (72nd minute). 

The Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Trojans (14-0) were powered by goals from Ethan Funtanilla (36th minute) and Kai Martin (46th minute) to dispatch Na Alii (10-3-1), the runner-up from the Maui Interscholastic League. Elias "Bubba" Emmanuel (47th minute) scored the lone goal for Kekaulike. 

The MIL champion Bears (12-0-1) rallied past the Falcons (8-4-3) with second-half goals by Jorden Carbonell (46th minute) and Guiness Ruiz Rockett (80th minute). Koa Close (35th minute) accounted for the only goal by Kalani, the sixth-place team out of the OIA. 

The Buffanblu (10-1-2), the ILH runner-up and No. 3 team in the ScoringLive Power Rankings, handled the BIIF champion Warriors (7-4-1) behind goals by Isaiah Kutaka (20th minute), Jack Maretzki (24th minute), Jedidiah Griffin (46th minute) and William Ruotola (58th minute). Aziah Nelson (53rd minute) netted the lone Waiakea goal. 

In Friday's championship semifinals, Mililani will face Punahou at 5 p.m. and Iolani will play Baldwin at 7 p.m. Both matches will be contested at the Waipio main stadium. 

In consolation games Friday, Kealakehe will meet Kalani at Field No. 7 and Kekaulike will take on Waiakea at Field No. 15. Both matches will kick off at 3 p.m.