Girls Soccer
Mililani routs Pearl City in girls soccer, 5-0


 



MILILANI — Tia Furuta scored two goals to lead Mililani to a 5-0 win over Pearl City in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division soccer game Tuesday night.

The Trojans netted four second-half goals to improve their record to 4-0, while the Chargers suffered their first shutout loss to fall to 3-2. A crowd of about 300 fans at John Kauinana Stadium was on hand on a chilly night in Central Oahu.

"Anytime we play a Pearl City team — they've got that commitment and teamwork — so we're very fortunate to get the five goals," Mililani coach Ray Akiona said. "I think a couple of the balls just bounced our way, but we knew it was going to be an even match going back-and-forth so we're very happy with the outcome."

Four different players scored goals Tuesday night for the Trojans, who have outscored their opponents 24-0 this season. Last year's two top scorers — TJ Reyno and Brittney Gideon — were lost to graduation. Both players completed their first season of Division I collegiate soccer: Reyno at Hawaii and Gideon at UNLV.

"This year we've got an equal balance across and at any time players can rise up, so we're very fortunate that we can rely on a lot of players to perform, which gives us more options and sometimes when you have equal balance in player talent, we can utilize them more efficiently," Akiona said.

Cassandra Stetser got the scoring started in the 10th minute off an assist from Kailana Keao, who crossed it from the left side of the goalie box. Mililani put 12 shots, including five on goal, on the Pearl City goal in the first half.

The Trojans held a 1-0 lead at halftime, but scored three goals in an eight-minute stretch in the early part of the second half.

Furuta made it a 2-0 game with her first goal of the game in the 56th minute. Furuta collected a pass from Dallas Minaya near the left side of the 18-yard box, cut back inside of a Pearl City defender and blasted a right-footed shot to the right of the goalie.

"Dallas passed me the ball and then I touched it past the defender and scored," said Furuta, who scored her fourth and fifth goals of the season.

Four minutes later, fullback Alyssa Stiles perfectly placed a ball just over the hands of the outstretched Chargers' keeper on a direct kick from nearly 40 yards out to give the Trojans a 3-0 lead.

Furuta extended her team's lead in the 64th minute off an assist from Shelynne Rapoza. Furuta said she expected a closer match against the Chargers.

"I didn't expect it because during summer league we only won 2-0 and they were kind of competitive," she said. "I think we worked together more and we cooperated well with each other and we were actually scoring."

Akiona said his team has to find ways to continue to capitalize on Furuta's natural athleticism.

"Tia is a strong athlete and she's coming around for us," Akiona said. "This is her first year for us so we're trying to figure out how to play with her better. Tia is a very quick player, she has natural instincts as an athlete so I think it's a matter of us learning how to play better with her. We're proud of her accomplishments today. It was exciting to see her shine."

Furuta said there was no lack of motivation going into Tuesday's game.

"We really wanted to win because Pearl City is one of our hardest games," Furuta said.

The Trojans added a late goal when Minaya scored in the 79th minute.

Mililani continues OIA West play at Kapolei Friday. The teams will enter the contest tied for second in the division standings — half a game behind Campbell, which shutout Nanakuli 3-0 Tuesday to improve to 5-0.



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




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