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Sat, Feb 3, 2024 @ Waipio

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Kamehameha

1

Punahou

2

Final	1st	2nd	OT	2OT	PK	Tot
Kamehameha (11-3-0)	0	1	-	-	-	1
Punahou (12-1-0)	1	1	-	-	-	2

M. Espiau (63’)   A. Ilae (44’)   X. Salanoa (16’)

WAIPIO — On the weekend of the Punahou Carnival, the Buffanblu girls soccer team fittingly made it a baker's dozen worth of state titles. 

Xehlia Salanoa and Anuhea Ilae each scored a goal to help No. 1 Punahou successfully defend its Motiv8 Foundation/HHSAA Division I State Championship with a 2-0 win over No. 2 Kamehameha Saturday. 

A hearty crowd of more than 3,500 fans on a blustery evening at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex saw the Buffanblu (12-1) capture their second consecutive state crown and 13th overall. 

"This is a game that signified the heart — it was tough, it was ugly for us — but they just knew they had to get it done by any means possible and it's their leadership and they had the heart and they left everything out there," Punahou coach Shelley Izuno said. 

Izuno reflected upon the leadership provided from her group of roughly a dozen seniors — including nine in the starting lineup — who experienced the agony of defeat at the hands of Kamehameha in a heartbreaking penalty shootout in the 2022 state final, as well as the sweet taste of victory with a resounding 3-0 win over the Warriors in the title game a year ago. 

"This class, they're special. We went through it together when they were sophomores, actually they were the ones who took the penalty kicks — Carly (Cormack), Emily (Daehler) — they missed and that was a huge heartbreak for them but it was also a huge growing moment for them and they've come so far since then and they still remember that. That's part of the pain that actually drives them to push so hard," Izuno said. 

Saturday's state final marked the fourth meeting between the Interscholastic League of Honolulu rivals this year. Punahou sandwiched a pair of 4-0 wins around a 1-0 defeat to Kamehameha back on Jan. 20. 

Ilae, one of the Buffanblu seniors, said the loss to the Warriors — the lone blemish on the team's resume — proved to be fruitful in hindsight. 

"We definitely needed that loss and it obviously just boosted our confidence knowing that we lost and we can come back and win again, four-zero," Ilae said. 

The Warriors (11-3) nearly got on the board in the third minute Saturday night on a shot on goal by Ayva-Ray Malepeai, but it ricocheted off the right post. 

The Buffanblu found the back of the net in the 16th minute on a play that started on a throw-in. Ilae flicked the inbounds pass with her head back toward the goal, where Salanoa delicately one-timed it with the side of her foot into the right side of the goal. 

"Me and Sachi (Ilae), we're always finding each other. We're both on the wings and I just saw her cross the ball, there was an opening right in the middle and I knew I had to try get my foot on it and I was able to get it past the ‘keeper," Salanoa said of her 11th goal this year.

Punahou nearly doubled up its lead just a few minutes later on a shot on goal by Ilae that dinged off the crossbar. 

Kamehameha had a couple of quality chances a minute apart in the 24th and 25th. Kaahupahau Montgomery's shot on goal from point blank was saved by Buffanblu goalkeeper Trisha Nitta and soon after that Kaya Leslie fired a shot that went off of the crossbar. 

With about five minutes left in the first half, the Warriors had another near-goal when Madison Sharrer was able to get off a shot on goal as she was slipping. Nitta was able to deflect away Sharrer's shot on goal and keep her team's 1-0 lead intact. 

Kamehameha coach Missy Moore lamented her team's inability to finish its numerous first-half opportunities in the attacking third. 

"I thought we came out and played a heck of a game, I'm not gonna lie. I thought we possessed the ball very well, we moved the ball around well, we had a good plan. We had a good plan, we just let some unfortunate goals go in and we couldn't put away our opportunities that we had early on," Moore said. 

Punahou added to its cushion only four minutes into the second half. On a play that started off a corner kick and was eventually mishandled by the goalie, Ilae was able to gather the loose ball in the box and put it away into the right side of the net. It was her 10th goal of the season. 

"It deflected off the goalkeeper and then I was at the right place at the right time and was able to flick it in," said Ilae, who was selected by the HHSAA as the tournament's most outstanding player.

Nearly 20 minutes later, Kamehameha cut into the Buffanblu lead on a goal by Marley Espiau. A Punahou foul gave Sarah Naumu a free kick from just inside midfield. Naumu served the ball off the restart to the front post to Espiau, who headed it just inside the right post and into the back of the net. Espiau was able to get behind the Buffanblu backline, but in front of the ‘keeper before she headed in her fifth goal of the year. 

"I mean, we told them at halftime, ‘We're sending in amazing balls right in front of the goal, we need someone on the end of it, just someone needs to follow ball, beat the ‘keeper to that beat and get it in' and (Espiau) did it, she did exactly what we asked her to do," Moore said. 

Salanoa said that the Buffanblu did anything but panic when the Warriors cut it to a one-goal game with about 17 minutes to play. 

"We knew, because we've only had two goals scored on us this season so we told each other that if we get scored on, we just gotta pick up the ball, get back into it and just don't put our heads down because we're still in the game and we knew that we could finish off this game strong," Salanoa said. 

Salanoa cited Punahou's rigorous preseason schedule that included a trio of tournaments, including a trip to southern California that included a few games against nationally-ranked opponents. 

"I knew this was a special team and I knew team had a lot of potential and before every big game we would have team meetings talking about how we know we can do it and we gotta play for each other and play hard, so I'm really proud of all these girls and busting our butts to finish the game even though it was a close game," Salanoa said. "I'm super proud."

Nitta started the match and made five saves in goals before she gave way to Xeyana Salanoa, who also tallied five saves in the win. 

Maile Kahele and Kailla Miller also split time between the posts for Kamehameha. Each registered two saves in the loss. 

The Buffanblu reached the state final for the third time in as many seasons; it was their 20th all-time appearance in the championship match. 

The Warriors have played in the last five title games and 16 overall. They were seeking their 12th state title and sixth under Moore.