Jonathan DeMotta was the golden man again as Kamehameha on Oahu.
The senior tallied his 26th goal of the season early in the first overtime Thursday, and the Warriors survived another tight squeeze and avoided an early exit at the HHSAA Division II soccer championships, beating Waialua 2-1.
BIIF champion Kamehameha (12-5-1), the top seed, faces Kapaa (10-1-1) at 1 p.m. Friday in the semifinals. The teams last met in the 2018 final, which Kamehameha won 3-2 for its first crown on the strength of DeMotta’s penalty kick near the end of regulation.
After a scoreless first half, the Bulldogs (4-9) of the OIA took the lead on Ezra Sheridan’s goal in the 63rd minute. Logan Waltjen netted the equalizer in the 69th minute.
Once the match was tied, Kamehameha had to like it chances considering its knack for winning close games recently at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex. In addition to Thursday’s match and last year’s final, the Warriors also eked out a win in the 2018 state semifinals, winning in penalty kicks to beat Pac-Five 2-1.
Kapaa beat Seabury 2-1 in its quarterfinal.
Kalaheo 2, Makua Lani 1: Daniel Fujiwara scored in the first half and Kai Takahashi made it 2-0 in the second half as the third-seeded Mustangs (11-2) of the OIA sent the BIIF runner-up Lions (10-7-1) to consolation play.
Makua Lani faces Waipahu on Friday.
Division I
BIIF champion Hawaii Prep, the top seed, saw its bid for a fourth consecutive state title end in a quarterfinal loss to Iolani.
Lincoln Oishi scored in the first minute and Tyler Udarbe gave the ILH runner-up Red Raiders (12-2-1) a 2-0 lead with a goal just before halftime.
Searching for his 42nd goal of the season, HPA Jake Schneider hit the post with a penalty early in the second half, but he later scored in the 64th minute.
Then, with about 16 minutes left on the unofficial scoreboard clock, Schneider got involved in a little shoving match with an ‘Iolani player. The center ref came around and gave Schneider — who began to argue — a yellow card and then a red card.
”It’s tough,” Schneider told Tribune News Service. “A lot of emotions are running through our heads. It’s a tough tournament. Every game’s a challenge. What can I say?”
Ka Makani meet Pearl City in a consolation match Friday.