OIA Girls Soccer
Moanalua, Mililani set to clash for OIA Division I crown


  



Thu, Jan 19, 2023 @ Kaiser


Final 1st 2nd OT 2OT PK Tot
Moanalua (12-3-1) 1 3 - - - 4
Pearl City (8-4-2) 2 0 - - - 2
R. Echavaria (7', 69')   R. Echavaria (59')   M. Lam (71')   T. Yoshimura (28')

For the first time since 2019, Na Menehune is going to the 'ship.

Buoyed by the play of Zoe Crawford in goal and a pair of scores by Rylie Echavaria, Moanalua dug deep to get past Pearl City, 4-2, in the OIA Division I girls soccer semifinals held at Kaiser High School.

"For us its a really big thing, we've been trying to get to this title game for a pretty long time," said Crawford. "Its my final year, so we're just really happy and really excited that we made it there."

Na Menehune scored thrice in the second half after trailing 2-1 at the intermission, getting the equalizer from Ryah Echavaria in the 59th minute and the eventual game-winner from sister Rylie in the 69th off a penalty kick.

"I tried to go up and head it, but she hit my head," said Rylie Echavaria of the play prior. "It was kind of in my range where I would take a shot, so when I got up to the ball I just had to make it count."

Greg Yamamoto | SL    Purchase image

"I shot it but it deflected off a defender," she added. "But then I seen it going past the goalie so I was just super excited."

But it was the play of Crawford that definitely set the stage for the comeback, especially in the 53rd minute of play where the Chargers had not one, but two well struck balls knocked away to keep Na Menehune within one score.

Then, on a corner kick just minutes later, it was Crawford again with another key save on a corner by Aeryn Hatico, that bent with pace toward the near post, but was cradled nicely.

"I think she did an amazing job, she definitely gave us the boost to help motivate us," said Echavaria of the play of Crawford. "We saw her make those stops and we were like 'we got to do this for her, we can't let her down after doing those stops.' We knew how much we wanted this."

Moanalua effectively put the game out of reach in the 71st minute, when Marisa Lam found the ball in space on the left side of the box after it richoted in front off of a corner taken by Thomas on the opposite side and tucked the ball neatly in the near corner for the game's final score. The score was first of the season for Lam.

"I'm just glad she put it away," said Echavaria. "It set the pace for us to slow it down and keep our composure."

Pearl City scored in the 28th minute when Hatico found Taylor Yoshimura on a cross for a nicely placed finish over the goalie, and the other an own goal on a ball that bounced high and was misplayed by a Moanalua defender, eventually sneaking over the keeper.

Moanalua is seeking its fourth overall OIA crown and first since 2012.

Greg Yamamoto | SL    Purchase image

As for the other OIA Division I finalist, Trojans are making its third consecutive appearance in the title match and seeking its third straight crown and 20th league championship overall.

Mililani got a late score by Iai Maafala to help lift the West top seeds to a 3-2 win over upset-minded Campbell, who the Trojans took down a year ago in the title game.

Maafala's goal in the 61st minute broke a two-all match that seemed all but destined to head to extra time.

"I had a good assist and was able to volley it into the far left corner," said Maafala. "It (the assist from Mari Ige) was really and nice and set me up for my run over the top."

Early on, the Trojans looked to be in control, jumping out to a 2-0 advantage on goals by Jaeda Edayan and Emma Higashi.

The first came off a set up touch by Maafala that Edayan fired into the back of the net for the game's opening score, while the other was a long run by Higashi capped off by a ball placed deftly past the keeper and into the left corner.

The Sabers got one goal back just three minutes of play later, when Jezarae Teixeira found a ball off a deflected corner and snuck it past the keeper to cut the margin to a goal.

It was Teixeira again in the 51st minute, with a header that sailed over the keeper's head to equalize.

Following the go-ahead score by Maafala, things got a little chippy down the stretch, with two yellow cards issued, both on Trojans' players.

The title match, on Saturday back at Kaiser at 7 p.m., is a rematch of the 2019 championship game. Mililani won 2-0.

All four teams will represent the OIA in the upcoming HHSAA Division I state tournament.





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