Mililani A Favorite To Claim Its Sixth State Boys Soccer Title
No one had to tell the Mililani boys soccer team that the margin for error is thin in the postseason. The Trojans know that from the recent OIA Red tournament, where they were extended to the limit by league foes Moanalua, Kalaheo and Kalani on their way to winning the championship.
The stakes will be higher this weekend as the Division I state tournament gets underway. A look at Mililani’s prospects is below.
The Mililani File
Record — 12-1 overall (9-1 in the season, first place, West’s No. 1 seed)
How they got here — OIA Red tourney recap: Defeated Moanalua (2-0 in quarterfinals), defeated Kalaheo (1-0 in semifinals, second overtime), defeated Kalani (1-0 on penalty kicks in title game).
Mililani was in the running for the top seed for the tournament at press time. As the OIA champion, the Trojans were certain to be one of the top four seeds, thereby earning a bye for the first round Friday. The team will play a quarterfinal game Saturday. (This weekend’s games are at Kamehameha-Maui and Kapolei High,) The semi-finals and championship game will be played Feb. 27 and 28, respectively, at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.
The History: Trojans at the state tournament — Mililani has won five DI state titles in its history, most recently 2012 under now-retired coach Jeff Yamamoto. They also won four straight titles from 2001-2004 under Yamamoto.
Scouting the 2014-15 Trojans — As has been the case throughout the season, the Trojans showed why they are regarded as one of the top defensive teams in the OIA playoffs, shutting out all three opponents in regulation time. In fact, Jan. 20 was the last time Mililani gave up a goal in regulation time, that coming in a 3-2 win over Pearl City in the last week of the season.
The Trojans enter this weekend on a seven-game win streak, with their only loss being to Kapolei (1-0) Jan. 6. The three combined goals yielded to Pearl City and Kapolei are the only tallies to come against the team, which won 11 of their games by way of a shutout.
Offensively, Kalahikiola Judd has been among Mililani’s top weapons. His 15 goals placed him fifth overall in scoring in the state, heading into last weekend.
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