Punahou's Nicole Beauchemin (8) scored off of a direct corner kick in the sixth minute to give the Buffanblu a 2-0 lead over Mililani in the semifinals of the Motiv8 Foundation/HHSAA Division I Girls Soccer Championships at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex. CJ Caraang | SL

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Fri, Feb 2, 2024 @ Waipio

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Mililani

0

Punahou

4

Final	1st	2nd	OT	2OT	PK	Tot
Mililani (13-2-2)	0	0	-	-	-	0
Punahou (12-1-0)	2	2	-	-	-	4

A. Ilae (78’)   E. Daehler (5')   N. Beauchemin (6')   X. Salanoa (79’)

Waipio - Punahou decisively win 4-0 over Mililani and make their way back to the title game.

"It's the execution," said Punahou head coach Shelley Izuno. "They (the girls) are usually dialed in and when they're actually executing one-two touches, they are connecting, and actually moving the ball."

Punahou started the match by dominating possession from the opening whistle and not allowing Mililani to catch their breath. The Buffanblu were awarded with 3 corner kicks in the first few minutes of the game. 

The first real attempt on goal happened in the 4th minute when midfielder Carly Cormack blasted an uncontested shot from close range, but Mililani goal keeper Jordyn Labajo-Cleaver was there to make a reaction save. Labajo-Cleaver made 5 total saves throughout the match. 

The breakthrough goal came a minute later. 

In the 5th minute, the ball was played into the box and the Mililani defense desperately tried to clear the ball out and away. The clearance was kicked low, ping ponged around in the box, and fell perfectly to Emily Daehler, who slotted the ball home with ease from close range. 

"Our goal is to always find the net as soon as possible," said Izuno. "They had the best warm up I've seen yet and you could feel it. Obviously, it went in and the energy was really high and they executed."

The Buffanblu wouldn't have to wait long to double their advantage. In the 6th minute, Punahou won yet another corner. From the left corner flag, midfielder Nicole Beauchemin hit a ball that floated over a helpless Labajo-Cleaver and into the top right corner of goal. 

"I was trying to curve it in,"  Beauchemin said of her goal. "My dad was telling me earlier it's supposed to be really windy tonight and to try use that to my advantage." 

 Beauchemin, the Punahou set-piece specialist, was busy on the night with a total of 9 corners and 4 freekicks to go along with her goal. 

"That was special just to witness," Izuno said of Beauchemin's goal. "She's amazing at placing long balls. Going back two years, she put two (freekicks) in on Mililani and she put a couple in this year. You usually don't see someone with odds of converting on freekicks or corner kicks like that. If someone was going to do it, it's her."

After the opening 10 minutes and down by two goals, the Trojans started to wake up and get the ball into the attacking third. They won 11 fouls alone in the first half and were able to go get more into the game. 

Mililani had their first real chance on goal 18 minutes into the game. A Trojan player was fouled by Beauchmin, who received a yellow card, in Buffanblu territory. Jaslene Cayetano wiped in a freekick at goal, but goalkeeper Trisha Nitta comfortably punched the ball out and away from her goal. That was Nitta's one save of the night. 

Mililani tried to get balls up to their star forward Atianna Tauiai Fuamatu-Maafala for much of the first half, but the likes of Beauchemin and center back Laulea Ah Mook Sang were always there to intercept balls or clear away any danger. 

Tactically after halftime, Mililani changed their style from being direct with the ball to a more possession based style of play and it created more chances for them. In the 43rd minute, midfielder Kamryn Albeso slipped in a beautiful through ball to teammate Kuhela "Lala" Ledward, but Ah Mook Sang did some last ditch defending to clear the ball out for a throw-in. 

The Trojans had another golden opportunity in the 52nd minute when Karlie Yamada broke free in the box and hit her shot on frame. However, Xeyana Salanoa, who replaced Nitta at halftime, came up big and blocked the close range shot. Salanoa would finish the game with a total of 3 saves.

The game was put out of reach with Punahou scoring another pair of goals in the final minutes of the contest. 

In the 78th minute, a Mililani defender tried to clear a ball out of the box but it found the feet of Punahou forward Anuhea "Sachie" Ilae. Ilae collected the ball and cracked a left footed shot into the top right corner of the net. 

A minute later, Cormack ran down the right wing and hit a nice low cross to Xehlia Salanoa, who scored easily from close range. 

The Buffanblu will now go head-to-head with arch rivals Kamehameha tomorrow in the championship game. Last year, Punahou beat Kamehameha 3-0 in the finals. 

"You never know how it's going to go," said Izuno. "They (Kamehameha) always play really hard and they don't quit and they are a tough team so it'll be a really good game."

After tonight's game, Beauchemin believes her team has what it takes to reclaim the title.

"4th time playing them (Kamehameha) this season so it's going to be a good game," said Beauchemin. "Props to Kamehameha. They are a strong team and we're just hoping to play even stronger than them."