Mid-Pacific reports freshman Kohei Tomita, who left yesterday’s semifinal in an ambulance, suffered a severe concussion and will not play tonight. He was just cleared from an earlier concussion on Monday. The Owls will also be missing sophomore center midfielder Tyler Allen, who pulled a groin early in the semifinals and sat out the second half.
Honokaa coaches say they don’t have anything worse than a charley horse and a few blisters, but their kids will play.
Kamehameha-Maui leads Baldwin 1-0 on a goal by Micah Alo in the 45th minute. There are about 10 minutes left. Baldwin’s Mitchell Barnes has a big chance with fewer than 2 minutes left but his shot from the middle of the box sails over the crossbar. Baldwin had shots in the final minute but the game ends. Kamehameha-Maui takes third place in divsion I for the second straight year.
The D2 championship will begin at 5 p.m.
We start on time, Mid-Pacific earns the first shot but is rebuffed by the Honokaa keeper.
The Owls are not possessing as much as they did in the semifinals against Hawaii Prep. Kai Umeda gets a cross but it is intercepted by Honokaa keeper Elzer Maltezo. MPI’s Payton Boyd takes a direct free kick from just outside the box and Honokaa somehow clears it. The game has been played deep in Honokaa territory for the last two minutes, but the Owls can’t crack the Dragons’ defense.
Tyler Allan is indeed playing, he just scored Mid-Pacific’s first goal on a header from Brandon Ho. Ho’s service came from about 30 yards out and was spot on, Maltezo came up for it but got caught up in the wash in front of the goal and had no chance.
Mid-Pacific 1, Honokaa 0, 24th minute.
Honokaa gets three golden chances in the waning minutes of the first half, but Owls keeper Andrew Musgrave bails his team out with one sprawling save and a catch of a hard shot from Preston Branco. The half ends with the teams tied with six shots each.
And the second half has begun. Adams unleashes a shot for Mid-Pacific but Maltezo goes high to save it.
Mid-Pacific scores a second goal in the 48th minute when Payton Boyd splits defenders in the middle of the box and beats the keeper. Mid-Pacific 2, Honokaa 0
The Owls have been assessed two yellow cards, that is not like them. Sophomore keeper Bryce Moore takes Musgrave’s place to a loud applause from the crowd. Owls up two with 20 minutes left, time to get sentimental. MPI then puts three more subs in.
The front line is still in, though, and Boyd blasts one over the crossbar.
Mid-Pacific wins it, 2-0. The Owls shut out every team they faced in the tournament.
Iolani and Punahou are on the field, here we go.
Dustin Wagner fires the first salvo for Iolani, but his attempt goes over the goal. Engel with another save, Punahou’s defense is being tested already. Henry Engel with his second save on a shot by Spencer Ho.
Punahou with a nice cross, but it is cleared. An Iolani corner cleared, then Engel with another stop.
Still scoreless with 2 minutes left in the first half, Iolani holds a 7-2 edge in shots. But Punahou has had its chances.
Finally some action. Punahou’s Brian Yanagi assessed a yellow card for a hard tackle, the center referee chased him all the way to the bench after he appears to celebrate being carded.
We are scoreless at halftime.
The action begins with KJ Ahlo of Iolani given a yellow card after Iolani cleared a shot attempt. Punahou is pushing the action. But he might be the lucky one, Punahou’s top scorer Antonio Espinoza goes down like he is shot after a collision with Timmy Leong. He is in pain and Leong is given a yellow after the referees discuss it. Espinoza walks off under his own power. Trainers are working on Espinoza’s right knee as Leong checks back in. Espinoza is one of the few Punahou scoring threats.
Things have calmed down considerably. Espinoza checked back in. Iolani’s Keoni Makekau given a yellow card. One of these might come back to haunt them.
KJ Ahlo wide on a blast. Spencer Ho crosses to Max Ching, who beats Engel.
1-0 Iolani, 58th minute.
Ahlo shot wide, 10 minutes left. Punahou being outshot 5-3 in the second half. Punahou’s Duncan McKenna hung with a yellow with about seven minutes left.
McKenna shot wide. Opportunities are few for the Buffanblu.
Dinsmore shot, Adachi save.
Engel bobbles a save attempt and Makakau pounced on it for a goal. Iolani’s 2, Punahou 0, 74th minute.
Iolani’s Tyler McKenna with a yellow.
‘Iolani wins.
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