The Cougars celebrate after knocking off the previously-undefeated Mustangs. Michael Lasquero | SL

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The Cougars celebrate after knocking off the previously-undefeated Mustangs. Michael Lasquero | SL

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HAWAII KAI — The title of best team in the OIA East has shifted to the squad from Hawaii Kai.

Lucas Shearer scored on a penalty kick and assisted on another goal as No. 4 Kaiser handed No. 2 Kalaheo its first loss of the season with a 2-0 victory Saturday on the Cougars' senior night.

After playing against the wind in the first half, the Cougars did all their scoring after the break as they improved to 9-0-1 in the league standings to finish as the top team (28 championship points) in the East at the end of the regular season.

"We played well," said Kaiser coach Layne Abalos. "We played to feet and keep our composure almost to the end I think. We kept the pressure on them while they couldn't get the ball forward. After a while, pressure is going to bring a goal and we brought it."

Throughout the match, the strong winds caused both teams to adjust how they played.

"The conditions really dictated our tactics for this game," said Kalaheo coach John Nakagawa. "We played more long balls than we're used to in possession and we weren't quite ready for that."

The Mustangs played with the wind to their backs in the first half and created a few more chances than Kaiser before halftime. Adam "Kainoa" Ferguson hit some long free kicks on goal, but Kaiser goal keeper Kai Nishibun was up to the task and made some routine saves.

After a scoreless first half, the action picked up right after the halftime whistle. Kalaheo had their best chances early in the 42nd minute when Daniel Fujiwara's low shot was saved at the last second by Nishibun. Fujiwara had another chance in the 52nd minute of a cross, but Nishibun was there to save it again.

"We had our opportunities definitely," said Nakagawa. "We weren't able to capitalize so that's something we can learn from."

The momentum of the game would change just a few minutes later when Kaiser's midfielders, Shearer, Sebastian Horn and Tytan Yamanaka, started to command possession.

"They're the strength of our team," said Abalos. "Can't say much more."

All of that pressure by Kaiser would soon pay off in the 56th minute when Shearer was awarded a penalty kick. His first attempt went in passed Kalaheo keeper Braden Uehara, but the ref wanted the kick retaken due to encroachment from another Cougar player. Shearer regathered himself and scored the second time to give Kaiser the 1-0 lead.