Oregon ousts Leahi 89 in under-19 match, 2-1
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Photo gallery: Far West Regional soccer |
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
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The last chance for a happy goodbye ended on a sad note for the Leahi 89 Premier girls soccer team.
Leahi lost to FC Portland Maroon of Oregon, 2-1, in the girls under-19 semifinals of the U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional tournament yesterday at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Park.
All five Hawai'i teams in the semifinals lost yesterday. Championship games will be played today, beginning at 7 a.m.
"We wanted to have a good time," Leahi forward Sammi Teramae said. "This is the last time we were playing together.
"This team is wonderful. You're never going to meet a team as happy as ours. We just enjoy each other and we come out to play. ... And the coaches are happy."
The under-19 division is the oldest division in the tournament.
Teramae scored six minutes after the start of the second half on a left-footed blast from the top of the 18-yard box that tied the score.
"I think we played well," said Teramae, who plays for the University of the Pacific. "This is our fifth game and a lot of us have been resting after hard college seasons."
All 18 players on Leahi are playing for college teams — most for Division I squads.
"This team has been such a pleasure," Leahi coach Michele Nagamine said. "They have such chemistry and care and love for each other. The core of this team has been together since they were 14."
FC Portland Maroon scored first on a goal by Rachelle Kliewer in the seventh minute on a breakaway on the right side. Jessica Tsao scored the go-ahead goal in the 74th minute after she received a pass about 8 yards out in front of the goal and slotted the ball into the right corner.
"We were up against it today," said FC Portland Maroon coach Steve Ancheta, who said this is the third time this team played in the semifinal round. "We definitely didn't want to go overtime. (Leahi) came out guns ablazin' and scored that goal."
Other Hawai'i games:
After two 15-minute full overtime periods, the game went to penalty kicks, which DVSC Black Pearl 90 won, 5-4.
Brock Granger, Keith Lum, Kimo Komomua and Blaine Gonsalves made their kicks for the Bulls.
Andrew Shapiro, Edwin Velazquez, Jaysen Dyal, Garrett Biel and Jose Cabeza scored for DVSC Black Pearl 90.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.