Kamehameha-Maui's Paytin Ayau knocked in a goal in the 36th minute in the Warriors' win over Kaiser. Michael Lasquero | SL

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Kamehameha-Maui's Paytin Ayau knocked in a goal in the 36th minute in the Warriors' win over Kaiser. Michael Lasquero | SL

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WAIPAHU — Kamehameha-Maui scored early and often en route to a 4-2 win over Kaiser in a quarterfinal match of The Queen's Medical Center/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I Boys Soccer State Championships at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium Thursday afternoon.

Brennan Joaquin scored a pair of goals — one in each half — to help the third-seeded Warriors improve to 11-1-1 and advance into Friday's semifinal round.

Kamehameha-Maui reached the semifinal round in both 2013 and 2014 — losing to Kalani and Iolani, respectively. It suffered a quarterfinal loss to Kalani last year.

"We're very hungry," said Joaquin, a fourth-year varsity member. "Junior year we lost to Kalani and we got fifth and it was kind of sad. We lost on our home turf and so we're hungry this year. We have nine seniors that want to win it and have been here this whole time."

The Warriors won the Maui Interscholastic League, which gave them a bye in Wednesday's opening-round of the 12-team tournament. Instead of giving his players the day off, Kyle Herendeen had them scout Kaiser's first-round game against Moanalua.

"It's tough being from an outer island being able to know all the players and teams and their strategies, so I think that helped, which is why winning the MIL is so important, but when we come out and do what we do we have a chance against anybody in the state," said Herendeen, the second-year Kamehameha-Maui coach said.

Joaquin said taking in Wednesday's game alleviated some nervousness going into Thursday.

"Watching them play before we played them helps a lot," Joaquin said. "We got to study them and got to know their tactics and stuff. I'm going to say we had pregame jitters, but after we got the game flowing we started to gain more confidence after that."

The Warriors got on the board in the 17th minute on a goal by sophomore midfielder Bailey Ota, who one-timed a cross from teammate Jake Mateaki.

Joaquin drew a foul in the 18-yard box in the 36th minute before converting on the ensuing penalty kick.

"Paytin (Ayau) gave me a nice ball and I just made a little cut and tried to play it in, but I got fouled," said Joaquin.

Less than a minute later, Ayau got free on a run along the right flank. He fired a shot that was deflected by Kaiser goalkeeper Brandon Yasue, but put away the rebound into the left side of the goal.

Ayau assisted on Joaquin's second goal in the 44th minute. He lofted a pass to Joaquin, who placed a right-footed shot past Yasue and into the netting.

"Paytin had a brilliant game. I don't know what I'd do without him," Joaquin said of the Ayau, a junior midfielder.

Herendeen credited Joaquin for being the straw that stirs the drink.

"He's kind of the driving force, especially offensively for us," said Herendeen, who served as an assistant for two seasons prior to taking over the program. "All season he's been able to put himself in dangerous positions and we find him, so he's a huge impact on the game."

Noah Mokulehua scored in the 48th and 59th minutes for both of Kaiser's goals.

The Cougars (10-4-1), who finished second in the Oahu Interscholastic Association tournament, fell to 3-9 all-time in quarterfinals and will play Radford in a fifth-place semifinal Friday.

The Warriors improved to 4-4 all-time in the quarterfinal round and will meet second-seeded Punahou in a 5 p.m. semifinal. They have never reached the state final.

"It feels good; Every step feels good as nothing is easy in states, but ultimately this is not what we came here for, so we've got more work to do," Herendeen said.