Punahou senior midfielder Aisha Price is a rare commodity in soccer — she's just as valuable with the ball in her hands or at her feet.

Price's throw-in set up the lone goal of the game by Jayann Gabrio as the Buffanblu upset top-seeded Kamehameha, 1-0, last night in the JN Automotive Group/HHSAA Girls Division I Soccer State Championships at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

"I just wanted to bring whatever I had to the table," said Price, who played sparingly — mainly to throw in the ball — because of a strained right quad. "I could cheer and I could take a throw-in. So that's what I did."

A crowd of 1,642 saw the Buffanblu (13-0-3) break up a string of three straight state championships by the Warriors (12-1-2).

"This is probably the most satisfying season," Punahou coach Matt Martinson said. "We've got a great group of senior leaders. The team stayed united. They were friends. They liked each other."

Martinson said he didn't know about Price's availability until just before the game. He said it called for "some creative substitutions."

"We were picking and choosing our spots and we picked the right one," he said.

Last night's rematch of last season's title game was the third meeting this season between the two teams. The previous two ended in ties.

"We knew what their strengths are," Martinson said. "They are a well-coached team. Rather than be overly tactical, we just wanted to go out and play with our hearts.

"There was a confidence about the team that I felt comfortable with before the game."

In the first half, Kamehameha sophomore forward Caprice Dydasco chased down a long ball popped over the Punahou defense, but her shot was high in the 10th minute. It was a strategy the Warriors would employ often — utilizing the quickness of Dydasco and junior forward Courtney-Rae Botelho by sending long balls over the Buffanblu defense.

Meanwhile, Punahou went to its strength: Price's throw-ins, which can reach about 40 yards.

Her toss flew to the far, left post for Gabrio, who headed the ball into the goal in the 36th minute.

"We've been practicing that all year," Gabrio said. "We were all up there framing and all at our spots. I just happened to be there at the right time."

Kamehameha coach Michele Nagamine said, "Everybody knows about (Price's throw-ins). You know where they're going, you know how far they're going. It's a freak of nature. Thank goodness she is graduating."

Price was named the tournament MVP. Nagamine, who knew Price was injured, called her performance "gritty."

Nagamine thought the Warriors "played well enough to win. But that's why they call soccer the beautiful game. On any given day a team can win. And a team can lose."

Between the two teams, they hold 15 state championships, including the past seven — Punahou from 2003 through 2005 and 2009, and Kamehameha from 2006 through 2008.

"It's a lot easier for me because I'm so completely grateful for everything we've accomplished," Nagamine said. "But for (the players) it's so hard. Last year it snuck up on us and this year our expectations were higher, so it hurts.

"But I'm happy for the Punahou seniors. They got to experience a fraction of what we did. It couldn't happen to a nicer group of people."

CONSOLATION FINAL

Pearl City 4, Roosevelt 2: PC — Alyssa Nagai, Dyna Domingo, Megan Shegata, Makenze Maurer. R — Kristin Ho, Kristin Tatemichi.

FIFTH PLACE

Kapolei and Kamehameha-Maui played to 0-0 draw.

THIRD PLACE

King Kekaulike and Mililani played to 0-0 draw.