The effort wasn’t as fluid as coach Gene Okamura might have liked, but Kamehameha once again exhibited a short memory at the HHSAA girls soccer tournament.
Kekai Wong Yuen put home Bryana Ebbers’ second-half corner kick Wednesday at Oahu’s Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex, lifting the Warriors to a 1-0 victory against Seabury Hall to reach the state quarterfinals.
Kamehameha (7-4-1) might be the perpetual BIIF runner-up, losing the last four finals to Hawaii Prep, but it won its opener on Oahu for the third consecutive season.
After a two-year absence, Makua Lani resumed its winning ways in the first round, beating Waianae 3-1 victory to give the Big Island three teams in the quarterfinals
Two-time defending state champion Ka Makani (9-1-1), the top seed, faces the OIA’s Waialua (5-7-1) on Thursday.
After Wong Yuen put Kamehameha ahead in the 45th minute, goalkeeper Cyrene Andaya came up big with a save on a breakaway to preserve the lead.
Andaya was rarely tested beyond that play, but all in all, Okamura would have like to have seen a complete effort against the Spartans (2-9) of Maui.
“We came out a little flat in the first half,” Okamura said. “Hopefully, we got the first-day jitters out of the way.”
The Warriors draw third-seeded Kalaheo (7-4-1), the OIA champion, in the quarterfinals.
The Lions (5-5-1) took a 1-0 lead into halftime on a goal by Jewel Stroud, and Pua Kauhaihao and Akari Shimizu scored in the second half. Nadasia Dakamas scored for the the OIA’s Seariders (2-12-0).
Makua Lani has won it past five state openers, but it’s yet to reach the semifinals in that span. On Thursday in the quarterfinals, the Lions face second-seeded Kapaa (10-1-1) of Kauai.
Division I
Dalles Young-Toledo scored in each half, and Ashley Nakoa-Kawahakui and Emma Knott added goals as the OIA’s Campbell (10-4-1) shut out BIIF runner-up Waiakea 4-0.
After a bye, BIIF champion Hilo (11-0-0), the third seed, faces Pearl City in Thursday’s quarterfinals. The Chargers (13-1-0) bested OIA rival Kapolei 4-1.
In a consolation match, the Warriors (7-4-1) will take on the OIA’s Moanalua, which lost 7-0 to Kamehameha-Kapalama.
