Goalkeeper Tatiana Alailima's quick reaction was the difference and Leilehua beat Kalaheo, 1-0, to capture its first league title Saturday night at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium at Roosevelt.

The Mules (9-4) won the penalty kicks tie-breaker, 4-2, after a scoreless regulation and two scoreless 10-minute overtime periods against the Mustangs (8-1-3). Both teams have qualified for this week's Division II state tournament, as well as third-place Waipahu and fourth-place Radford.

In the tie-breaker, each team has five chances at penalty kicks with the first to clinch winning the game.

With the penalty kicks tied at 2, Alailima went to her left to stuff Kalaheo's Danielle Ferguson's kick.

"Actually, I didn't expect it to go that way," Alailima said. "I expected it to go right, but I kind of stayed low and I saw some hint of which way it was going to go (at the last moment)."

The Mules went ahead, 3-2, after Rachel Tenbroeke sent her shot past Mustangs' keeper Kainoa Makua. Makua was Kalaheo's next kicker, but her kick hit the crossbar and the Mules clinched it when Kristen Tainatongo made her goal.

"Word can't put it up what happened tonight," Leilehua coach Mat Smithe said. "The girls played outstanding. It was a tough game. We came through. We worked on PKs all week. I thank my coaches Steve Albano and Dani Tokuda. They did a great job with the kids this year."

Smithe - in is 28th season as coach, only two years shy of the history of girls' soccer in the OIA - said his team worked on penalty kicks religiously. They only come into play in postseason, when teams have to advance.

"No matter what, playoffs, state, PKs are very important," Smithe said. "Last year, we were sixth seed in the Red and we played Kahuku. They were third seed and we beat'em in PKs."

Ironically, Leilehua's last loss was Dec. 18, 1-0, against Kalaheo. The Mules' win streak stands at eight.

The East champion Mustangs, who have given up just four goals this season, were solid defensively, as were the Mules during the regulation and overtimes. But penalty kicks are another issue, coach Alan Heu said.

"When we found out we made states (after beating Waipahu in last week's semifinals), we started working on our penalty shots," Heu said. "But when you get down here, you hear the crowd, there's that added pressure. You can never emulate the pressure you're going to have (in practice) when you're taking the penalty kick when the game is on the line. My teams have never been successful going into penalty kicks, but unfortunately, that's the way the game is played."

Marissa Speakman and Kamele Kahanu made Kalaheo's first two penalty kicks. Aubrey Ohara and Roseanne Dumlao made theirs before Alailima made the first save.

For the Mules, the third seed in the West, it was an incredible finish to a season of adversity. They had to forfeit two early season wins for using an ineligible player.

"I think my team is amazing and fought through a lot," Alailima said. "They really pushed through everything, all our trials and tribulations."

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