Defending state champion Kamehameha scored two goals in a five-minute span to overcome a one-goal deficit and defeat Iolani, 2-1, in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys soccer game yesterday at Kamehameha.

"Typical Iolani-Kamehameha game — so exciting," Kamehameha coach Andrew Ah New said of the game, a rematch of last year's state championship final.

Kamehameha sophomore forward Kimo Komomua and senior forward Logan Sauer scored as the Warriors improved to 6-1-0 and remained in second place in the ILH with 18 points. Iolani dropped to 4-2-1 (13 points). Punahou is atop the standings at 7-0-0 (21).

The ILH receives one automatic state tournament berth and plays a Maui Interscholastic League team for another. The first half of the season ended yesterday. Ah New isn't concerned about postseason implications yet, and Iolani coach Chris Lee said the Raiders were taking it "game-by-game."

Komomua scored his team-leading eighth goal in the 62nd minute on a set piece. Senior defender Calen Wong sent a 35-yard free kick from the left side of the field to the far post, and junior midfielder Kekoa Osorio headed the ball into the face of the goal to Komomua.

"When I saw the ball going over (to Osorio), I just ran to the goal," Komomua said. "I passed it (toward the goal) but it bounced off the keeper and bounced off my chest and into the goal."

Sauer scored the eventual game-winner five minutes later on another assist from Osorio, who took the ball down the middle of the field and cracked a low 25-yard shot that the Iolani goalkeeper couldn't hold on to. The rebound flew back up the middle of the 18-yard box, where Sauer was trailing.

"I thought (Kamehameha's Zane Dydasco) was going to get it," Sauer said. "I usually run where he was (closer to the goal). If I'm not there, then I just wait and see what comes out."

Sauer said after the Warriors went down 1-0, they knew they needed to "step it up." He said it helped that the core group of Warriors had played together for a long time.

"Kamehameha kept the pressure on and made the most of their opportunities," Iolani's Lee said.

Ah New said the Warriors played hesitantly to start the game.

"We were not really aggressive in the first half," he said. "But I told them at halftime that (Iolani) dominated, but it was still (scoreless), so it was their turn to take the second half."

Early on, the Raiders did a good job contesting and winning most air balls and hassling the Warriors every time they touched the ball.

"That's the way we try to play," Lee said. "We have to play together as a team; that's traditional Iolani style."

Iolani junior forward Morgan Langley scored his team-leading eighth goal in the 48th minute on an assist from senior forward Raymond Machi.

Machi controlled the ball near midfield, and beat several defenders before slotting a through ball up the gut of Kamehameha's defense for Langley to run on to. Langley timed his run perfectly, beating the Kamehameha defense and shooting a low ball under the Warriors goalkeeper.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.