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Kalani Takase | ScoringLiveJanuary 25, 2024, 11:39pm
Thu, Jan 25, 2024 @ Kapolei
KAPOLEI — It might as well be David versus Goliath come Saturday night.
Mililani, the No. 1 team in the ScoringLive Power Rankings, will be trying for its third straight OIA championship and league-record 19th title against unranked Campbell, which will be playing in its very first OIA final.
Both the Trojans (12-0) and the Sabers (9-1-2) advanced to Saturday's title game with semifinal wins over Kapolei and Kailua, respectively.
In the matinee matchup at Kapolei's Alvin Nagasako Sports Complex Thursday, West second seed Campbell outlasted No. 8 Kailua, the top seed out of the East, in penalty kicks, 1-0 (4-2 PKs).
Senior goalkeeper Kaeden Tunupopo sparked his team in PKs by blocking two would-be goals.
After 80 scoreless minutes of regulation — and another 20 without a goal over two overtime periods — the Sabers and Surfriders went to a penalty kick shootout.
That's when Tunupopo clutched up.
The senior goalkeeper denied Kailua's first two shooters, including a spectacular diving save to his left to open the shootout.
"They kind of put me in goal for the PKs because that's kind of what I do," Tunupopo said. "I'm able to read them and then just kind of go the right way."
Two of Tunupopo's three saves in goal came in PKs.
"What an awesome job," Campbell coach Leonard Ancheta said of Tunupopo.
"He wasn't our starting ‘keeper throughout the season, we have two great ‘keepers and Kaeden stepped up today against a super physical team. We wanted a bigger, more physical goalie in there and he held it down so I'm super proud. He's a senior and I'm just so proud that he's having this great season," Ancheta said.
Meanwhile, Tunupopo's teammates were a perfect 4 for 4 on their PKs. Devin Desjardin, Simon Sykora, Tyler Welsch and Jonah Poepoe converted their kicks for the Sabers.
Tunupopo said the team gained momentum with each successful PK.
"Seeing them make it in, oh my, it just made me want to save another one after another one," Tunupopo said.
Poepoe's goal — which made it a 4-2 cushion after four rounds of shooters — clinched the Campbell win.
Although it was Campbell's first time going to PKs this season, Ancheta made sure his crew was prepared for the situation.
"We practice it so it's not something that they're surprised and it's not too big of a moment for them because we do it during practice all the time to get them ready mentally — because a lot of that, PKs for the shooter and the goalkeeper is mental — so the moment wasn't too big for them and I'm proud of them."
Campbell tallied five shots on goal, with all of them coming after halftime.
Kailua had only one shot on goal, but had a number of solidly-struck shots in the final third early on in the match. However, Campbell's defenders were able to deflect most chances for the Surfriders.
"Our defense, they work hard. We work on drills throughout practice and the mentality and just how they work together, I'm super proud of those boys. They deserve all the recognition they're gonna get because they work hard," Ancheta said.
Tunupopo spoke highly of the Surfriders — who had not dropped a match since a season-opening 1-0 defeat to Castle back on Dec. 9 — but even more highly of his defense.
"They're a good team, it's just — they're good, but our defense was better," Tunupopo said.
To his point, the Sabers have shut out their last five opponents. They have recorded eight clean sheets this season.
Campbell had a good look at the goal about 20 minutes into the match, when a Kailua foul gave the Sabers a free kick that eventually found its way to Cody Mar, but Mar's shot from about 10 yards out was high and went over the crossbar.
Kailua's shot on goal came in the 34th minute. Connor Reece put a solid strike on the ball with his left foot from about 20 yards out, but Tunupopo made the sure-handed save.
The Sabers manufactured eight of their 14 corner kicks in the second half, but were unable to cash any of them in for goals.
In the final seconds of the second overtime period, Kailua's Desmond McMaster lowered his shoulder into the chest of Mar, who needed to be tended to by athletic trainers. McMaster was subsequently issued a yellow card, while Ancheta and his assistants attempted to quell the rest of the Campbell team.
"It was the end of the game already, so I think they got excited and these are young athletes so we try to keep their emotions in check a little bit because that can get a little bit out of hand, so I wanted them to really represent themselves, represent the school properly and although that foul was uncalled for — it was a super hard foul — I think for the most part, we handled it good and we were able to control our emotions," Ancheta said.
Campbell's only other appearance in the semifinal round of the OIA tournament came in 2001, when it finished fourth.
"It's exciting — first time in Campbell history, so it's a historic team. They've been working hard and I'm super proud of them," said Ancheta, who will step down at the conclusion of this season — his third leading the program — in order to devote more time to his family.
"It's quite a sacrifice to be a coach and my family has sacrificed a lot, so it's my last ride with these boys and I'm super proud of them," Ancheta added.
Kailua (8-2-2) will play Kapolei (9-3-1) Friday, 7 p.m. at Pearl City's Bino Neves Stadium in the third-place game.
Mililani took care of the West third-seeded Hurricanes by a score of 3-0 in the nightcap Thursday at Nagasako Sports Complex.
The West top-seeded Trojans got a pair of first-half goals — both from Jackson Cosner and just a minute apart — to remain undefeated on the year.
Both of Cosner's goals came in the run of play; His first broke the seal in the 21st minute.
"I kind of had a breakaway, Caleb Ishizaka had a nice little dribble to the corner and I was hiding in the back left corner. He slotted it across and I found a nice little sitter to the right corner," Cosner recalled of his first goal since Dec. 21.
Not long after play restarted, Cosner found the back of the net once more.He credited Elijah Kuni for the cross that led to his sixth goal of the year.
"I found myself open on a header and I just finished it," said Cosner, a junior midfielder.
Skyler Vail's team-leading 13th goal gave the Trojans some insurance in the 76th minute.
Two of Kapolei's three losses this season have come at the hands of Mililani, which has shutout 11 of 12 opponents and allowed only one goal all season.
The Trojans and Sabers will face off in the second game of an OIA championship doubleheader at Kapolei Saturday.
Waipahu (3-7-1) and Castle (6-3-2) will play for the D2 title at 5:30 p.m.
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