Mililani and Campbell reach OIA Women’s Football Championship game

The Mililani girls’ football team needed just four shots – three of which found the back of the net – to take control against Pearl City on Thursday.

Mari Ige scored twice and Kailee Wilson added a goal in the first 26 minutes as the Trojans beat the Chargers 4-0 in the semifinals of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I tournament in Kapolei.

“They were very efficient. They were determined to get off to a good start,” Mililani coach Darren Smith said.

Mililani (12-0) will face Campbell for the title on Saturday in Kapolei.

The Trojans won the last OIA title in 2020. Football was not played last season due to COVID-19.

“Since we had a one-year break, it was a bit difficult for all the girls to come together as a team and play together,” said Ige, a junior. “We all play for different clubs, so we all come together to play for Mililani, as Mililani – I think we do that pretty well.”

Mililani and Pearl City (9-3-1) had already qualified for the HHSAA Women’s Soccer Championship, which begins Feb. 21.

Ige put the Trojans on the scoreboard after controlling a pass from Tavena Oliveira in the middle of the penalty area and firing a shot into the goal at 8:02.

“I brought the ball to my right foot, took a deep breath, relaxed, touched, looked up, saw the left side of the open goal and I smashed into the goal,” Ige said.

Wilson put Mililani up 2-0 on an 18-yard field goal, a bad jump past goaltender Mikaela Maria Javar at 12:58.

Mililani’s third shot nearly went in as well. Oliveira fed Kiana Muratsuka in front of goal and her shot was blocked by Javar, the ball spinning just past the goal line before being cleared by the Chargers.

West seeded Mililani took a 3-0 lead when Ige scored on a header off a Muratsuka pass at 25:19.

“(Muratsuka) made a good turn, came back down the line,” Ige said. “I saw his head lift. I was waving my hand in the air asking for a pass. We also made direct eye contact.

Tauiai Fuamatu-Maafala made it 4-0 at 68:19 when she broke away on a breakaway, fired a shot from the left post and calmly hit the rebound.

The best scoring opportunity for Pearl City, the West’s third seed, came in the 56th minute when Alyssa Bautista sent a pass to Maia Santa Monica, whose heel shot falling in front of goal was saved by backup goalie Taylor VanAntwerp.

“You always worry about playing against Mililani, but we did well in the second half,” said Pearl City coach Frank Baumholtz. “We made some adjustments and that evened things out a bit.”

Campbell 2, Moanalua 1, OT

Things really picked up speed between the Sabers and Na Menehune after the 60th minute, with Cheyenne Mattos capping things off with an 89th-minute golden goal.

Jaylee Curran’s free kick from 40 yards was hit by Mattos just as she made contact with Moanalua keeper Zoe Crawford in front of goal.

“I saw the ball go up in the air and the Moanalua players were pushing,” Mattos said. “I kind of stayed behind so I wouldn’t be offside when I was running. When she kicked I just tried to judge it and ran as hard as I could and touched the ball and scored.

Campbell (10-1-1) will face Mililani for the title on Saturday in Kapolei.

“Mililani are a strong team right now,” Campbell’s coach James Curran said. “They have a lot of staff. It’s a solid and well-balanced team. It will be a challenge.

The game was tied 1-1 after 80 minutes.

Na Menehune’s Rylie Echavaria nearly ended the first minute of extra time when his free kick from 35 yards bounced off the crossbar.

The Sabers, the second seed in the West, had a chance in the 84th when Mattos’ blast from 25 yards sailed just over the crossbar.

East seed Na Menehune scored first when Maleah Kanayama netted an assist from Elana Melton at 62:31. The play was set up after Campbell’s keeper knocked the ball wide of the net but was in no position to stop Kanayama’s shot, which deflected off a Sabers player and into the net.

Campbell tied the game 1-1 at 64:24 when Kaelyn Jaentsch drilled a shot over the goalkeeper after Moanalua (9-1-1) was unable to clear the ball from the penalty area .

“I just wanted to score, bro,” Jaentsch said. “I just really needed to equalize this game. I saw the cross and it deflected off one of the girls and I just hit her with everything.