Kalaheo can finally claim it is the best in the league

Jan. 25--It took a while, but Kalaheo finally expanded its rule over OIA White East soccer to the whole league.

The Mustangs (6-6) had been the top seed in the East in each of the past four years, but always fell short. They lost in the championship in 2011 and 2012 before beating Leilehua 2-0 for the title on Friday night at Kapolei's field.

"It's awesome. The girls worked hard from the very beginning," Kalaheo coach Alan Heu said. "This group is balanced. There are no stars on this team, whereas in the past we might have had one or two better players. That makes them all work hard together."

Both teams are already in the state tournament beginning Feb. 5, along with Radford and Nanakuli.

Keely York got Kalaheo off to a good start in the fourth minute when she beat the defense to the top of the box and raced Leilehua keeper Alo Salausa to the ball. The players met the ball at about the same time and York punched it in as Salausa dropped to grab it. That score would be all Kalaheo would need for its first championship, but York is probably going to have to watch the TV replay to remember her role in it.

"It's all a blur," York said. "I was trying to get it in the net and doing whatever it takes and it went in, that's all that matters."

Mayumi Ishikawa added Kalaheo's insurance goal on a booming attempt in the 72nd minute, lofting a ball at the crossbar that Salausa caught with both hands but let slip out of her grasp and into the goal. Kalaheo gave up a similar goal to Waipahu in a loss in the 2012 White championship.

"That was a beauty," Heu said. "Just a great shot that we remember giving up against Waipahu. It was great to see something come back on this pitch."

Kalaheo had the advantage throughout, not allowing the Mules to get an attack going. Leilehua hadn't given up more than one goal in a game since Jan. 3 against Aiea.

"We were kind of kicking the ball instead of placing it," Leilehua coach Erin Chow said. "We couldn't get an attack going, and when we did, Kalaheo cleared it. You can't help that."

The Mustangs began the season 0-6, capped by a 5-1 loss to Roosevelt when Kalaheo fielded only 11 players. The Mustangs stepped into their White division schedule after that and won six in a row, the last five by shutout. Leilehua (5-7) followed the same path, starting the season 0-5 before winning five of its last six.

"We were actually in a good state," York said. "We were losing, and losing is never fun, but we weren't losing by a lot."

___

(c)2014 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services