KAHULUI — For Owen Riecke, it was only fitting.

The King Kekaulike High School senior striker has been a leader for the defending state champions all year, but has been left on the doorstep of finding the back of the net time and time again.

Thursday, when it counted most, it was Riecke’s goal in the fourth round of a penalty-kick shootout that sent Na Alii back to the Motiv8 Foundation/HHSAA Division I state tournament.

They outlasted Kamehameha Maui 3-2 in the second-place playoff for the Maui Interscholastic League’s final state spot.

Na Alii will host Aiea in a first-round match Monday, a spot that seemed in doubt until Riecke beat Kamehameha Maui goalkeeper Titus Joaquin as night had nearly completely enveloped Keopuolani Park field No. 5.

“It was just relieving, the keeper went the right way and I thought he saved it at first — he got a hand on it, but I think I hit it with enough confidence and power that he couldn’t save it,” Riecke said. “It feels special going back to the state tournament, especially after what we did last year. We needed to show that we’re still state champions and still contenders for the state title.

“This was definitely a statement game for us.”

Na Alii won the shootout 4-2 by making all four of their shots in the five-round (if necessary) shootout: Bubba Emmanuel, Bear Jarman and Joaquin Tavares started the shootout with successful kicks before Riecke stepped to the spot.

King Kekaulike goalkeeper Nainoa Pascual stopped the first two shooters for the Warriors before Makaha Pang and Kairos Joaquin were successful.

Pascual stopped a penalty kick in a match on Tuesday over Lahainaluna that sent Na Alii to the playoff match with a 7-3-0 record, the same as the Warriors.

“That felt big,” Pascual said of his pivotal stops. “Last game I had same spot PK and I saved that one, so I think that was a big confidence booster for me. And last year’s first round against Kapolei wasn’t my best, but I rebounded, learned the technique on reading the players and where they go and it worked out tonight.”

The shootout was necessary after 80 minutes of regulation play and 20 more minutes in golden goal overtime format ended 2-2.

Jai Sternthall put Na Alii ahead 1-0 in the second minute, Bryson Cagasan tied the match 1-1 in the 17th minute, Riecke scored a goal off a pass from his younger brother Rex in the 65th minute and Masen Heu scored to tie it up again in the 75th minute.

The two teams split their regular-season matchups one win apiece after Kamehameha Maui beat Na Alii 2-0 on Monday.

“First of all, we want to congratulate Kam on the season they had, I mean, those guys are a class team and they are one of the top teams probably in the state,” King Kekaulike co-head coach Aaron Hamamura said. “It was unfortunate that this was one of those games that somebody has to lose.”

Kamehameha Maui coach Jayson Nakasone said he was proud of his team for battling back to tie the match twice in regulation. They went 5-0-0 in the MIL second round of play after a 2-3-0 start.

“I mean, hey, they gave it their all, cannot be prouder,” Nakasone said, adding that a deserving team is staying home from the state tournament. “Maybe that’s what we should be talking about, having more teams from the MIL. I’m very, very proud of my guys.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

MOTIV8 Foundation / HHSAA Boys Soccer State Championships

Monday’s Matches • First Round

Aiea at King Kekaulike, time TBD

Kapolei at Punahou, 3 p.m.

Kaiser at Waiakea, 3 p.m.

Kalani vs. Kailua at Farrington, 5:30 p.m.

At Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex (unless otherwise noted)

Thursday, Feb. 9 • Quarterfinals

No. 1 Mililani vs. Aiea-King Kekaulike winner, 3 p.m.

No. 4 Hilo vs. Punahou-Kapolei winner, 3 p.m.

No. 2 Iolani vs. Waiakea-Kaiser winner, 3 p.m.

No. 3 Baldwin vs. Kalani-Kailua winner, 3 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 10

Fifth-place semifinals

Miliani-Aiea/King Kekaulike loser vs. Hilo-Punahou/Kapolei loser, 1 p.m.

Iolani-Waiakea/Kaiser loser vs. Baldwin-Kalani/Kailua loser, 1 p.m.

Semifinals • At Waipahu HS

Miliani-Aiea/King Kekaulike winner vs. Hilo-Punahou/Kapolei winner, 1 p.m.

Iolani-Waiakea/Kaiser winner vs. Baldwin-Kalani/Kailua winner, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 11

Fifth-place match, 3 p.m.

Third-place match, 3 p.m.

Championship, 7 p.m.