PUKALANI — After a scoreless first half, nerves were running high for the Kamehameha Schools Maui girls soccer team.

The Warriors were able to breathe a little easier after Kaena Kehano and Kealani Warner both got a touch on the ball to score in the 60th minute, and Kamehameha Maui held on to defeat Campbell 1-0 in a Queen’s Medical Center/HHSAA Division I State Championship first-round match Monday night at Kanaiaupuni Stadium.

Kamehameha Maui (8-1-2), the Maui Interscholastic League runner-up, advances to play top-seeded Kamehameha Kapalama on Thursday in the quarterfinals on Oahu.

“It was super important, especially in a game like this where the score was 0-0,” said Warriors junior Sofia Stupplebeen, who provided the big assist on the lone goal of the game. “Once you get that first goal in, you can just settle the game and play your own game, so that’s what you have to focus on, just creating those opportunities.”

The goal was officially credited to Warner by the referees, but the team felt that both Kehano and Warner got a touch on the ball.

On a free kick, Kahiau Bonacorsi passed to Stupplebeen, whose long kick headed toward the box.

“I didn’t really see it at that point because I got pushed,” Warner said. “I thought I kneed the ball as I was falling but I couldn’t see because I was on the ground, but I heard everyone cheering so I got up and, like, the pain wasn’t there from the adrenaline and I just ran into the circle, and it felt really good.”

After taking down the Sabers (10-2-2) — ranked No. 5 in the scoringlive.com poll — in front of a Warriors home crowd, Kehano looks forward to moving on to the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.

“It was really good for us, especially because we lost to (Campbell) last year in the exact spot,” she said. “So to be able to come back this year and beat them this time, I think it really brought us together as a team and I think we just feel more confident going into the state tournament.”

Campbell spent a lot of time by the Warriors’ goal, though, totaling nine shot attempts in the first half while Kamehameha Maui had none.

But the Warriors kept themselves in the game with a few major stops, like when Kamahie Samudio lunged in front of the goal to block a shot attempt by the Sabers’ Sharey Romero in the 30th minute.

The ball almost found the net again after it popped over the goalie’s head, but Bonacorsi cleared the ball just in time.

Kamehameha goalkeeper Robynn Yoshida was called “Super Robynn” for her key saves against the Sabers.

“I’m a hard-nosed coach, so the girls are known for … you throw your bodies to protect the goal, whatever you can do to help out the team and they did,” Warriors coach Jim Kaeo said. “Robynn has been coming out the whole year making saves like that, nothing more important.”

After the halftime break, Kaeo told the Warriors to reset and organize the back line.

With four minutes left and Kamehameha clinging to its lead, Bonacorsi came up with another big stop to preserve the win.

In the end, Campbell totaled 20 shots while Kamehameha had five.

Sabers coach James Curran said his team was “just unlucky today.”

“We knew it was going to be a battle — we came in here and stole the game last year — and they have a new coaching staff, so I knew they were pretty hungry,” Curran said. “They have something good going on here, but I thought we totally dominated a majority of the game. We had a ton of shots on goal, a ton of opportunities.”

While the Sabers now turn their attention to next season, the Warriors look forward to taking on defending state champion Kamehameha Kapalama on Thursday at 7 p.m.

“They’re not scared,” Kaeo said of his players. “We have great coaches, they’re on the field during scrimmages — we got Kami (Kapaku) who’s an all-state, Makana (Cabanas) and Kalena (Kaeo) who has played in these types of games, so they get the kids ready for times like this.”

* Dakota Grossman is at dgrossman@mauinews.com

Girls Soccer

Division I State Championship

Monday’s Results

First Round

Pearl City 3, Hilo 1

Punahou 1, Aiea 0

Kamehameha Maui 1, Campbell 0

Moanalua 1, Kailua 0

Thursday’s Matches

At Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex

Quarterfinals

No. 4 Konawaena vs. Moanalua, 1 p.m.

No. 3 King Kekaulike vs. Punahou, 3 p.m.

No. 2 Mililani vs. Pearl City, 5 p.m.

No. 1 Kamehameha Kapalama vs. Kamehameha Maui, 7 p.m.