Mililani's Tavena Oliveira (7) celebrates with Kamalani Yamashita (9) after scoring a goal in the 33nd minute assisted by Emma Higashi (13) against the Chargers. CJ Caraang | SL

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Tue, Jan 11, 2022 @ Mililani

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Pearl City

0

Mililani

2

Final	1st	2nd	OT	2OT	PK	Tot
Pearl City (10-4-1)	0	0	-	-	-	0
Mililani (15-1-0)	2	0	-	-	-	2

T. Oliveira (33’)   K. Wilson (13')

MILILANI — Kailee Wilson and Tavena Oliveira each scored a goal to lead Mililani to a 2-0 win over visiting Pearl City in an Oahu Interscholastic Association girls soccer game at John Kauinana Stadium Tuesday night. 

The Trojans improved to 5-0 with the win, which gave them sole possession of first place in the league's Division I West standings with 15 championship points, while the Chargers were dealt their second loss in five days to fall to 3-2.

"I think we did really well," said Wilson, a junior center-forward. "I think we really stepped up our game and just came out firing."

The statistics reflected as much: Mililani registered six shots on goal and three corner kicks, while Pearl City was held to one and zero, respectively. 

"That's very rare, so yeah, fantastic" Trojans coach Darren Smith said of the corner kick-free effort from his defense.

Center-backs Kamryn Shigemoto and Raine Komata, flanked by outside-backs Kira Watase and Kayla Sato limited the number of chances the Chargers came across and made life easy for goalkeeper Taylor VanAntwerp, who saved the only shot-on-goal she saw. Defensive-mid Mari Ige was also key to the shut out, as well as fellow midfielders Kiana Muratsuka and Kamalani Yamashita. 

"They're fantastic. Their spacing, their timing and the communication — the leadership out of the middle is amazing, both Raine and Kam," Smith said. 

Wilson also praised the play of her defensive teammates. 

"Our defense is solid, I'm really proud of them," she said. "They give me a lot of confidence; I have faith in my backs."

Mililani got on the board just 13 minutes in, when Wilson gathered a pass from Yamashita, took a couple of dribbles and then fired a left-footed shot that went through the hands of Pearl City goalkeeper Mikaela Maria Javar — who made a diving attempt at the ball — and into the lower right corner of the goal. 

"All I remember is I think it was a loose ball and then Kama just touched it over the defense and that's when I ran for it and just tried to go to goal," said Wilson. 

It was her fourth goal of the season. Wilson has scored a goal in three straight games. 

"During the run of play I think her supporting movement off the ball is dangerous and then when we can find her in space that she can exploit, she's extremely versatile so she's a finisher and she proved it at that," Smith said. 

The Trojans registered shots on goal in the 17th and 18th minutes. Oliveira chased down a long pass down the left sideline and had a shot from point blank, but it was saved by Javar. A minute later, Muratsuka served a corner kick to the back post, where it found Higashi, but her header was again saved by Javar. 

Pearl City had its best scoring opportunity in the 25th minute, when a misplayed ball by a Mililani fullback allowed Kayla Santa Monica to get free. Santa Monica got off a shot from about 25 yards out, but it was wide right of the goal and not on frame. 

Instead of an equalizer for the Chargers, the Trojans doubled up their lead about eight minutes later. 

Higashi delivered a well-placed pass down the left sideline for Oliveira, who tracked it down then juked out the goalie to leave herself an open look at goal from just a few yards out. 

"Exactly how it played out. (Oliveira) did a great job of putting herself on an island on the backside and she was able to capitalize," Smith said. 

Oliveira tucked it away for an easy goal In the 33rd minute; it was her fourth of the season and her first goal since she found the back of the net twice against Aiea on Jan. 4. 

Mililani played without forward Tauiai Fuamatu-Maafala, who has scored a team-high seven goals. She did not play for undisclosed reasons, but her teammates seemed to do just fine without her. 

"They did a fantastic job. Our possession piece was there, the biggest thing is we want to maintain our composure and play our game. We were a little nervous to begin with, but as soon as they started to find their spacing it started to be there and then as we have the opportunities, it's just a matter of finishing them," Smith said. 

The Trojans had several more scoring chances in the second half — including a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box in the 49th minute that sailed high and over the crossbar. 

Still, after having blown out their first four opponents by a combined margin of 37 goals scored to zero allowed, this was Mililani's first real test of the season — and one that it passed with flying colors. 

Smith acknowledged as much. 

"We're definitely taking steps in the right way," he said. "We absolutely respect Pearl City for the style of play; we recognize that they're dangerous, but we recognize that we have a lot to work on and we are definitely taking strides toward where we want to be, so it was exactly the type of match that we needed to see just so we can continue to build."

Longtime Pearl City coach Frank Baumholtz pointed out some of the difficulties he and his squad have faced, including a very small roster by the program's standards. 

"We had nineteen girls come out for the team and we kept all nineteen," Baumholtz said. "We've always had many and all the young ones went to the JV, but year the JV has got like fifteen and this year we even have no JV boys at Pearl City," Baumholtz said.

At this juncture of the season, Baumholtz believes the defeat at the hands of the Trojans will better his bunch.

"This whole season has been a pain in the butt because they didn't let us play last year and by doing that we had no continuity," Baumholtz lamented. "We couldn't do anything during the summer, so this is like having a brand new team that has come out together for the very first time and try to play together, so we're not where we want to be yet, but we've got the rest of the season to get there and we just have to be a good team by February."

Javar tallied four saves in goal — two in each half — for the Chargers, who were coming off of a 1-0 loss at Campbell Friday. 

Pearl City will host Nanakuli Friday, while Mililani has a bye that night. 

The Trojans will return to action next Tuesday, when they visit Waialua.