Baldwin girls' best shot since 2002?

The Baldwin girls soccer team played in three straight state finals from 2000-02 behind the likes of 2006 Pac-10 Player of the Year Nicole Garbin and future college players Mahie Atay, Kalena Eaton, Koren Takeyama, Tia Medeiros and Taryn Apo, several who played for the University of Hawaii.

A decade later, the Bears are led by a group of 10 seniors and coach Kawika Keator said this is his best team since the Garbin-led juggernaut. Now, the names are Amber-Lei Madriaga, Megan Jorgensen, Breanna Gaddis and Tina Imada, but this team is remarkably similar in my mind.

Thursday, the Bears will play ILH runner-up Iolani, a 7-1 winner over Aiea in the first round today at Waipio Soccer Complex. Last season, the Bears, coming off a state semifinal appearance in 2010, lost 2-0 to Iolani in the quarterfinals and finished in a tie for fifth. Here is my story on the Bears' preparation and thoughts going into the state tournament.

Also today, MIL runner-up Kamehameha Maui got goals from Makana Pundyke and Lily Higashino to come from behind and beat Kaiser, 2-1, and will No. 1-seeded and sister school Kamehameha Kapalama in the quarterfinals.

MIL D-II champion Seabury Hall lost to Kapaa, 3-0. The Spartans will face Kamehameha Big Island, a 1-0 loser in overtime to Radford, today in a consolation semifinal.