HHSAA Division II GIRLS SOCCER: Pac-Five Out-Kicks Kapaa for DII Crown

By Kyle Galdeira

After playing to a stalemate through regulation and two sudden-death overtime periods, Pac-Five converted four of its five penalty kicks to break the tie, and defeat Kapaa 1-0 in the championship match of the Division II Hawaii High School Athletic Association/JN Automotive Group girls state soccer championships yesterday evening at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex’s main stadium.

The title marks the second state crown for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Wolfpack (7-6-2) as the program took the inaugural Division II championship in 2007.

Geena Fong’s clinching penalty kick into the top right hand corner of the net sealed the victory for Pac-Five. Fong went on to earn Most Outstanding Player honors, while Christine Tamamoto, Kendal Kagawa and Chelsea Yoneda also scored goals in the penalty kick period.

Larissa Crain and Takara Kunioka chipped in penalty kicks for Kapaa.

The squads ended regulation time with the score knotted at zero, a result of Pac-Five using its superior speed to neutralize Kapaa’s height and size advantage.

In the first 10-minute sudden-death overtime period, Crain was awarded a direct free kick following a penalty just outside the 18-yard box, but was unable to convert the opportunity as her shot sailed wide left of the goal post.

Pac-Five controlled the ball in its attack zone for most of the second overtime period, keeping the pressure on the Warriors’ defense.

The Warriors fell to 7-4-1 on the season, and the Kauai Interscholastic Federation runner-up was out-shot, 16-14, through regulation and overtime.