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Leighland TagawaFebruary 10, 2024, 6:42am
Fri, Feb 9, 2024 @ Waipio
Waipio - It wasn't easy, but Iolani is heading back to the HHSAA Division I Boys Soccer Championship game after defeating Baldwin in overtime 1-0 Friday night.
This is the second day in a row that the Raiders needed extra time to win, as they defeated Kealakehe on Thursday in double OT.
"I thought it was a back and forth game," said Iolani coach Christopher Lee. "I always know that when Baldwin comes to the tournament, they always have a very well trained team and I'm very respectful of them."
The game started out with Baldwin dictating the run of play. The Bears had a dangerous opportunity to score in the 22nd minute when midfielder Jordan Carbonell got loose in the box. Carbonell hit a powerful shot that was saved by Iolani goalkeeper Brayden Obrero.
The Raiders would get their first chance on goal in the 31st minute of play. Keane Palmer hit a freekick into the middle of the box and Austin Ancheta rose above everyone and hit a bullet header toward goal. It took an acrobatic one-handed save by Baldwin keeper Sam Paci to keep the score leveled.
After halftime, both teams had trouble connecting passes and finding the final ball.
The first real second half chance came on a breakaway for Iolani. In the 62nd minute, Devin Lee was played in on a through ball and was charging towards goal. He was met by Paci and defender Jonathan Acosta all collided just inside the 18 yard box. There were shouts for a penalty kick, but to no avail. Acosta would end up taking the brunt of the collision and did not return to the match.
With 1:27 seconds left in regulation, the Bears had a golden opportunity to beat the defending champs.
Left back Brayden Barbosa jinked his way through at least five Raider players and was taken down in the box for a penalty. Kanata Kuwahara stepped in and was tasked with sealing the game away. Kuwahara hit a powerful spot kick to the left, but Obrero read it perfectly and kept the Raiders in it.
"Honestly, I was nervous," said Obrero. "But then, once I got my nerves down, I stared him (Kuwahara) dead in the eye and I started smiling at him. I pointed to psych him out. After that, I looked at his hips and then I dove and I saved it."
The penalty save was one of Obreros' six saves on the night. He was also dealing with a tweaked hamstring during much of the second half.
"Brayden coming up with that penalty kick save was a huge lift for us," said Lee. "The save helped us momentum-wise and kept us in the game."
In the overtime period, there were no clear cut chances by any team. But then, with time expiring, the Raiders went on a counter attack. Mike Kostecki hit a cross in from the left flank to Kualau Manuel. Manuel beat his defender to the ball and scored the golden goal in the 90th minute.
"I just saw Mikey (Kostecki) driving down the line," During practice, my coaches always talked about going to the front post, so I just tried my best to get to the front post."
The Raiders will now face a familiar foe in Mililani, the team they beat 2-1 last year in a penalty shootout.
"We know Mililani," said Lee. "A lot of them play club with our boys and some of their older boys are some of the best players out there. We are going to need another team effort from us to be successful tomorrow."
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