Baldwin's Caleb Soo Hoo celebrates after kicking the game-winning penalty kick against the Mililani Trojans. Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 1 of 1

WAIPAHU — This one went down to the wire.

Baldwin edged Mililani in penalty kicks, 5-4, in the quarterfinals of the Queen's Medical Center/HHSAA Division I state tournament Thursday night at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium. 

The game went to a shootout after no team could find the back of the net during the 80 minutes of regulation and the two 10 minute overtime periods.

Baldwin, the Maui Interscholastic League champion and third-seeded team in the tourney, will play unseeded Kaiser in a 5 p.m. semifinal on Friday. 

"It was a great game," said Baldwin goalkeeper Jorge Dante Perez-Martin. "I'm really proud of my backline. Everybody did good. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow."

In the first half, Mililani's game plan was to sit back and block the passing lanes for the Baldwin defenders and use the heavy leg of keeper Rusty Crowder to create opportunities for its offense. Baldwin's game plan was to spread the ball around, starting from the defenders, and get it to its speedy forwards.

Mililani created more chances, but missed wide or were snubbed by Perez-Martin. Towards the end of the first half, Mililani's Crowder made a diving fingertip save to keep the game scoreless heading into the break. 

Crowder seemed to have picked up an injury early after colliding with teammate Trystan Wright but never needed to leave the field.

In the second half, Baldwin dominated more of the possession. Baldwin received a golden opportunity when Angelo Deloso-Flocco was taken down in the penalty box. Deloso-Flocco took the penalty kick, but Crowder dove the right way and blocked the follow up shot by Deloso-Flocco. 

"Their keeper (Crowder) was unbelievable," said Baldwin coach Kane Palazzotto. "He made some really good saves to keep them in the game."

Crowder made a total of nine saves in the contest.

The two teams headed into overtime tied 0-0. Mililani came out aggressive and put a lot of pressure on the Baldwin defenders when overtime started. The Trojans' best chance came when junior forward Darnel Williams latched on to a through ball and was one-on-one against Perez-Martin, who was able to make the save.

Perez-Martin made a total of seven saves throughout the game.

No team was able to score after the two 10 minute overtime periods so penalty kicks were needed. Both goalkeepers made saves on the first shooters of each team. The next eight shooters would convert their spot kicks to make it 4-4. Both keepers also saw time as a shooter and converted on their opportunities.

In the top half of the sixth round, Perez-Martin blocked a shot by Mililani's Chad Uyejo shot to give the Bears the advantage. 

"Since I was young, I practiced taking PKs and blocking them" said Perez-Martin. "I like PKs. They are my best attribute."

Baldwin's Caleb Soo Hoo would score the game-winning PK with a low shot that beat Crowder. The whole Baldwin team rushed the field to celebrate around both Soo Hoo and Perez-Martin. With the win, the Bears (10-0-3) remained undefeated on the season.

"This is the state tournament, you have to lay it all on the line if you want to win" said coach Palazzotto.