Coach Mario Patino credited assistant Cameron Castillo as the architect of a formation that helped Kamehameha create offensive opportunities against Honokaa on Friday.
But while Castillo may have drawn up the plan, nothing gets done for the Warriors these days unless Dominik Pajimola has a big say in it.
The senior striker tallied two goals and an assist as the Warriors downed the Dragons 3-1 to reach the HHSAA championship game at Oahu’s Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.
Two weeks after winning its first BIIF championship, Kamehameha is ready to extend its rule statewide.
The Warriors (13-4) will ride a 10-game winning streak into Saturday’s 5 p.m. state final against top-seeded Mid-Pacific (9-2-2). The defending state champion Owls downed BIIF runner-up Hawaii Prep 3-1 in the other semifinal.
“They are finally believing that they can accomplish something that wasn’t in the game plan,” Patino said. “They just wanted to come to states. Now they know they have the opportunity for the big trophy. They are going to come out fighting.”
By Honokaa coach Maurice Miranda’s count, Kamehameha tallied two easy goals and one hard one. The latter came courtesy of Pajimola on a blast from beyond the penalty box in the 59th minute as Kamehameha took a 3-0 lead.
“A thing of beauty,” Miranda said.
The Dragons (9-7-1), the BIIF’s third-place team, had won three do-or-die matches in a row and were trying to reach the state final for the fifth time in six years.
“They played better,” Miranda said. “We looked tired. I think we lost our legs. But hats off to (Kamehameha).”
Patino said Honokaa at times used three players to mark Pajimola, so he was glad Castillo had suggested before the game that the Warriors switch Chance Aguiar-Chartrand from stopper to forward.
Patino called the move risky since his team puts such an emphasis on defense.
The first reward came in the 16th minute when Riley Siemann scored off a corner kick off the foot of Pajimola.
“The defense had to decide who to mark,” Patino said. “They couldn’t just focus on Dominik.”
Kamehameha also did a much better job of containing Dragons’ senior standout Preston Branco. Patino said his team held Branco to three shots, as opposed to the 10 he took in a 3-0 Honokaa victory at Kamehameha on Dec. 20.
“That game was important,” Patino said. “We wanted redemption after that match. When we learned we were playing Honokaa on Thursday, the team was very excited.”
The Warriors have lost only once since an 0-3 start in which they were scoreless. Including his goal in the 56th minute Friday, Pajimola has tallied 22 of his team’s 47 goals this season.
“He’s learned,” Patino said. “I watched him play as a freshman. He’s learned to play through adversity and stay confident.”
Kyle Ohta scored in the 68th minute for Honokaa, which takes on rival HPA at 1 p.m. Saturday for third place.
Mid-Pacific 3, Hawaii Prep 1: Stirling Aponte netted two goals and Tyler Allen also scored as the ILH champion Owls reached the final for the third consecutive season.
Austin Schneider put Ka Makani (10-5-1) on the board first with a goal in the fourth minute.