As the wins mounted, the ultimate goal became closer to reality for the Waialua boys soccer team. Finishing the season 12-0 would mean its first O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship.

The Bulldogs accomplished both yesterday, scoring on a penalty kick to defeat Kailua, 1-0, in the White Division final at Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.

"It feels so great," said Waialua senior captain Kainoa Rosa, who scored the lone goal. "All the hard work paid off.

"We were thinking we wanted to remain undefeated. We wanted this last 'W.' "

Waialua, Kailua, third-place McKinley and fourth-place Radford all qualified for the HHSAA Division II state tournament, scheduled for Feb. 11 to 14 at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex.

"We were striving for that goal (of being undefeated and winning the OIA)," Waialua coach John Rosa said. "We got this far; why couldn't we go to the next level?"

Waialua (12-0-0) was the only team to beat Kailua (10-2-0) this year, doing it for the second time yesterday in a showdown between the West and East champions.

"It's just amazing," Kainoa Rosa said. "Waialua never had this kind of opportunity to become champs.

"Kailua is one of the best teams. I think they can compete in the Red Division."

Both teams had scoring chances in the first half.

Kailua junior defender Mark Maeda sent a through pass to junior forward Cameron Lee, but Waialua senior goalkeeper Ronnie Powell disrupted the play with a diving save in the 23rd minute.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs were successful with crosses but couldn't find the goal.

The second minute into the second half, Waialua was awarded a penalty kick when junior forward Somkhit Lovan was taken down inside the box. Defender Rosa blasted a shot just under the crossbar for the goal.

"I just wanted to focus on putting the ball on net," Rosa said. "You just have to block everyone out when you are in that situation. It's just you and the goalie."

Kailua coach Mike Griesel said he expected the game to be close, with the Bulldogs giving up four goals all season and Kailua allowing seven.

"They have a lot of strategies and tricks that make them really good," Griesel said. "This time they wanted to send long balls and they got lucky with a foul on our sweeper.

"We knew this wasn't going to be a blowout."