Friday Figures Big In West Girls Soccer

The OIA Red West girls soccer race is best described as balanced. Entering last weekend’s action, the league’s top teams, including Aiea, Campbell, Kapolei, Mililani and Pearl City, had a combined record of 26-5. Below are previews of area games at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Pearl City at Campbell

The Sabers entered the home stretch having reeled off seven straight wins. They are looking to continue their offensive momentum, as their 35 goals were the best in the West entering last weekend’s action. Defensively, the team also has been solid, giving up only two goals heading into the weekend.

The Chargers’ only two losses as of last weekend had been to Mililani and Aiea. Pearl City’s Tasha Inong had 12 goals as of late last week, rating her third overall among the state’s top scorers.

Nanakuli at Aiea

Perhaps no team has been playing at a higher level of late than Aiea, which followed up its season-opening loss to Campbell by winning five straight. Defense has carried Aiea lately, as its last three wins (over Waipahu, Radford and Waialua) came by shutout. Offensively, scoring goals hasn’t been an issue for Aiea, led by Raisa Strom-Okimoto, who entered the weekend as the state’s leading scorer with 16 goals. Nanakuli was 1-5 through its first six games, having dropped five straight.

Kapolei at Waipahu

No West team had a tougher league slate over the last 10 days than Waipahu, who faced Pearl City last Tuesday, Campbell (next Tuesday) and Kapolei in this game Friday. Entering last weekend, the Hurricanes only loss had come in a 1-0 setback to Campbell.

After struggling to find the back of the net last year, Kapolei head coach Brian Beck is pleased with the Hurricanes’ offensive turnaround. Alyssa Yoshida is one of the reasons for her team’s goal-scoring abilities.

Waipahu is rebuilding with a young roster after being promoted to the Red from DII, where it captured the OIA Division II title en route to a state tournament appearance in 2011-12.

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