The Roosevelt girls soccer team may have to consider swapping the school fight song for "Ode to Joy" after pulling out an exhausting shootout win over Kaua'i in the semifinals of the JN Automotive Group/HHSAA Girls Soccer Division II State Championships at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex.

With the score knotted at 2-2 after regulation and overtime, Rough Rider goalie Joy Nakahara knocked down a chest-high screamer by Kylie Taniguchi, enabling Roosevelt to take the penalty shootout 5-3.

The Rough Riders will face Kamehameha-Hawai'i, which beat Campbell, 3-0, in yesterday's other semifinal, for the Division II title.

"I think just being together today was what won it for us," said Roosevelt head coach Shaina Caporoz, who was forced to substitute liberally when four players went down with cramps and another suffered an ankle injury. "With losing so many girls, our teamwork made the difference."

Roosevelt took an early lead when Rachel Domingo scored the only goal of the first half on a header from the back post eight minutes into the contest.

Kaua'i rallied in the second half behind back-to-back goals by Brandi Gomes. Roosevelt then tied the game when a pinpoint crossing pass found Kristin Ho all alone on the right side of the goal with 11 minutes left to play.

Both teams had their opportunities in the overtime period, but solid defense and a bit of fatigue extended the stalemate.

Roosevelt led the shootout 3-2 when Nakahara blocked Taniguchi's kick.

"I just read where she was going from her feet," said Nakahara. "I just wanted to block shots."

After successful kicks by Roosevelt's Kristin Tatemichi and Kauai's Tiffany Ikeda-Simao, Domingo clinched the contest with a shot to the upper right corner of the goal that just missed freshman goalie Saryna Garcia's outstretched fingers.

"I was so happy when (Nakahara) made the save because all we had to do was make the rest and we'd win," Domingo said. "I didn't want to go to another shootout, so I knew I had to make my kick."

Despite the loss, Kaua'i head coach Matt Victor said he was impressed with how his team responded after playing four games in four days.

"In light of all of that, I was proud of the effort they put out and the energy that they were able to put into the game," he said. "I thought we moved the ball well in the second half. We had our opportunities but we couldn't capitalize down the stretch. We were just a little bit short."

In the other semifinal, Kamehameha-Hawai'i relied on cohesive (and adhesive) defense to shut out Campbell.

Jessica Marote provided all the offense the Warriors would need with a goal from 18 feet out in the first half. In the second half, 'Io Heaukulani's kick glanced off the right corner of the goal but Marote was there for the follow-up to put Kamehameha ahead 2-0. Bryana De Lima later added another goal from 20 feet out to put the game out of reach.

"Our defense has been really organized," Charlie Heaukulani said. "We're playing defense as well as I've seen."

Heaukulani bolstered his defense by moving versatile talents like Lauren Vierra and Tara Hottendorf to the backfield.

"They're proven scorers, but they agreed to do it for the good of the team," Heaukulani said. "That said a lot to everyone on the team that they were willing to sacrifice for the team."

Heaukulani said his team is still trying to adjust to Waipi'o's relatively small fields and the high winds that have complicated the first rounds of the playoffs.

"We haven't played our best game," he said. "We still have not played our best soccer, but they're getting more and more comfortable every day and we'll keep getting better."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.