WAIPAHU — In preparation for its biggest game of the season, the Kapolei girls soccer team exploded with a 3-0 win over King Kekaulike to advance to the state championship game.

Kapolei, the second seed and O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion, defeated King Kekaulike in the Meadow Gold Dairies/HHSAA Girls State Division I semifinals last night at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

The Hurricanes will face top-seeded Kamehameha tonight at 8 in the championship game, also at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

"We wanted to get as many goals as we could so everyone could play," said Kapolei sophomore forward Chelsea Swann, who was credited with two goals last night.

Its past four games were decided by one, including two games that went into penalty kicks and one double-overtime victory to claim the OIA title.

Kapolei's defense has not allowed a goal in three games, and was successful in holding third-seeded King Kekaulike, champion of the Maui Interscholastic League, to four shots.

The Hurricanes broke through in the final 10 minutes of the first half, with goals by Kapolei sophomore midfielder Kirsten Otsuka and Swann that both deflected off King Kekaulike defenders.

"It's unfortunate we made some defensive mistakes," King Kekaulike coach Gundi Dancil said. "Mentally, in the first half, it got to them."

Otsuka scored in the 33rd minute on an outside shot that deflected off a King Kekaulike defender and changed directions, as the goalkeeper was diving the other way.

Otsuka assisted on Swann's goal on a corner kick from the left side four minutes later. The ball skimmed off Swann's head onto the head of a King Kekaulike defender and into the goal.

"I went like that (she makes a heading motion with her head), so I guess I distracted her," Swann said. "I guess it skimmed. It just went in, so we were happy."

Otsuka also assisted on Swann's second goal four minutes into the start of the second half, when she crossed the ball from the left side. Swann shot once and her shot was blocked, but she tucked the rebound away into the right side of the goal.

"We watched them yesterday, and when the first goal went in off the defender and then the second one, we thought, 'OK.' It's the state tournament; we'll take it," Kapolei coach Brian Beck said. "The third one, we deserved it."

CONSOLATION

MILILANI 5, KONAWAENA 0

Dayne Shinjo scored twice and Mari Miyashiro, Chelsey Goo and Natalie Wong added one goal apiece as the Trojans blanked the Wildcats.

KALANI 2, KAISER 1 (PK)

The Falcons outscored the Cougars, 3-2, in penalty kicks. Kara Yamamoto, Lyndsee Sugano and Tani Costa made their penalty kicks for Falcons, while Rachel Tomita and Amy Austin converted for the Cougars. Kaiser's Amanda Suiso scored in the 4th minute. Costa tied the game at 1 with her goal in the 46th minute.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.