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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 24, 2008

Roosevelt, 'Aiea in OIA semifinals

Photo galleryPhoto gallery: Castle vs. Roosevelt boys soccer
Photo galleryPhoto gallery: Kalani vs. Aiea boys soccer

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Castle's Landon Takushi is sandwiched by Roosevelt's Stephen Sinco, left, and James Aquino as they battle for possession.

JOAQUIN SIOPACK | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Getting past a defender one-one-one in soccer is difficult enough.

Roosevelt senior Stephen Sinco decided to go one-on-two and came away with a spectacular go-ahead goal in a 3-1 victory over East champion Castle last night in the quarterfinals of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Boys Red Conference championships at 'Aiea.

In the 44th minute, Sinco received a long ball down the left side near the end line. He dribbled to his left around the first defender and cut back past the second, which gave him a nice angle on goal. Sinco then fired a low shot into the net to make it 2-1.

"I just got a good pass down the side and I cut in and I saw an opportunity so I just shot it in," Sinco said. "I was kind of surprised I got past. The first one not really, but the second one, yeah, I was pretty lucky."

Roosevelt, the East's No. 6 team, will play 'Aiea tonight in the semifinals at 7 at Kailua. 'Aiea defeated Kalani, 2-0, in last night's other quarterfinal at 'Aiea.

"In my opinion, it's not done yet," said Roosevelt senior Leslie Nwapa, who scored on a penalty kick in the second half. "We still have one more game to get to the OIA championships and that's where we're going."

In last night's quarterfinals at Mililani, Moanalua beat Kaiser, 4-0; and Mililani beat Kalaheo, 1-0. Moanalua and Kaiser will play today at 5:15 p.m. at Kailua.

All semifinalists qualified for the state tournament.

"It's good to go into the states, but we want to be like last year. We want to continue on and win," said Roosevelt coach Ed Ota.

Nwapa's penalty kick in the 46th minute made it 3-1. Nwapa was tackled at the top of the penalty box after a long run down the left side by Ryan Pena.

Nwapa also dominated the midfield with fancy footwork and superior height for Roosevelt (7-5-2).

The 6-foot-3 Nwapa was born in Sweden to Nigerian parents and moved here two years ago.

"I've been playing soccer all my life," he said. "To me it's not just a sport, it's a lifestyle, a way of living."

Pena scored in the 19th minute off an assist from Sinco. Sinco's pass from the right side hit Pena near the top of the penalty box and his shot deflected off the goal keeper and into the goal.

In the 21st minute, Castle's Blayne Muraoka tied it after chesting down a long ball, splitting two defenders, dodging the goal keeper and shooting into the net.

Castle (8-5) can still qualify for the state tournament from the consolation bracket. Six OIA teams will play in the state tournament.

'AIEA 2, KALANI 0

Kenneth Dedicatoria scored in the 16th minute and Ricky Itagaki in the 62nd minute as Na Ali'i beat the Falcons last night at 'Aiea.

"We strive to make the states every year, but more importantly we're in the semis for the OIAs," said 'Aiea coach Jon Shirafuji.

Dedicatoria scored from about 15 yards out on the left side. His shot got past the diving goal keeper and into the bottom right of the goal.

"It was a short pass from the corner and I just turned and shot it," Dedicatoria said.

Itagaki scored on a rebound for West runner-up 'Aiea (7-3-3).

Kalani, the East's No. 3 team, dropped to 8-5-1.

The game was delayed about 30 minutes midway through the second half when Kalani's Dylan Taschner was taken off by ambulance. An air cast was placed on his lower left leg.

O'AHU INTERSCHOLASTIC ASSOCIATION

RED DIVISION QUARTERFINALS

AT MILILANI

Mililani 1, Kalaheo 0. Goal scorer—Mili: Colin Lund.

Moanalua 4, Kaiser 0. Goal scorers—Moan: Sean Nicholson 2, Justin Watanabe, Trace Brown.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.