Kaiser senior Matthew Bush, an All-State defender last season, was moved to the midfield this season to help with "better distribution and better control in the center," according to Cougars assistant coach Michelle Schreiner.

He's also helping out on offense, scoring in Kaiser's 1-0 win over host Kalani yesterday in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division game.

"It was a very important win," Schreiner said. "It gives Kalani its first loss and keeps us in the running in the East."

The win moved Kaiser (6-1-1, 19 points) over Kalani (5-1-2, 17) in the standings, with just over a week remaining in the regular season. Moanalua (7-1-1, 22) is in first place, and Kalaheo (6-0-2, 20) is in second. The OIA Tournament begins Jan. 27.

"Now if we win our next two games, we could get good seeding in the OIA (Tournament)," said Bush, who scored his eighth goal of the season.

He scored in the ninth minute when a pass from a Kalani defender bounced off his thigh and deflected back toward the Falcons' goal.

Bush outran the defense and when the Kalani goalkeeper came out to defend him, he chipped the ball over the goalkeeper's head into the open goal.

"It was good because it helped us to get the momentum early," Bush said.

Led by Bush, the Cougars' defense, especially in the midfield, put the pressure on Kalani.

"The kids were playing hard," Schreiner said. "They knew they had to take Kalani out of their tactical game. We weren't allowing good touches. (Kalani is) a very disciplined team."

Kalani coach Myles Arakawa said "those guys pressure."

He said he underestimated the rivalry aspect of the game, which he thought took the Falcons out of their game for a while.

"We played a good second half," Arakawa said. "We had some good passes. (We had) one mental lapse. Give Kaiser credit, they put it in."

Kalani was tied for second place at the start of this week, after beating league leader Moanalua, 2-1, Saturday.

"Up to this game, we were playing really well," said Arakawa, in his second year with the Falcons after leading the Iolani boys to several state titles.

Elsewhere in the OIA yesterday: