The Kalaheo boys soccer team is enjoying its best offensive surge of the season.

The Mustangs defeated host Moanalua, 3-1, last night to remain atop the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red East standings. Kalaheo scored seven goals in its past two games, matching the scoring total through its first seven.

"These last few games we've been putting our hearts into it," said junior forward Joshua Amoroso, who factored in on all three of the Mustangs' goals last night. "It helps that we've seen these teams already. We already have a feel for them."

Kalaheo (7-2-0) earned three points for the win giving it 21. Roosevelt (6-2-2), which beat Castle, 2-0, last night, remains a close second with 20 points. The top two seeded teams receive first-round byes for the OIA Red Tournament that begins Jan. 27.

"We're not a high scoring team; all of our games have been really close," Kalaheo coach John Nakagawa said. "I attribute that to the quality of the teams. Like Moanalua; they have skill, speed and are disciplined.

"We always work on finishing but we've been focusing on certain combinations of team plays."

Junior forward Jonathan Rodriguez, who scored two goals last night, acknowledged that, "this year we can score more because we have more options."

Amoroso scored in the ninth minute on a cross from senior forward/midfielder Andres Garcia, who volleyed the ball over his shoulder trying to keep the play alive after Moanalua was attempting to clear a corner kick.

"I just happened to be in the area where he popped it back in," Amoroso said.

It was Kalaheo's second good try in the opening minutes, following a shot by senior midfielder Luke Uherek that was knocked out of bounds to set up the corner kick.

Moanalua had a chance to tie the score in the 26th minute off a throw-in that drew the goalkeeper out of the goal, but the ensuing shot went high over the empty goal.

Rodriguez scored his first goal just before halftime on a pass from Amoroso, who put the ball into traffic in the 18-yard box. Rodriguez finished the play with a low shot into the left corner of the goal.

"Me and Josh, people say when we play together, we play like magic," Rodriguez said.

Moanalua scored in the 55th minute on a goal by junior midfielder Alex Colby, who scored after a shot by sophomore forward Bricen Hue pinged off the left goalpost and back out to the right side of the 18-yard box. The Kalaheo defenders stopped playing and Colby caught them off guard as he continued the play.

"The ball was moving fast both ways," Moanalua coach Spencer Machado said. "By the time they realized the ball was in play, he was turning the corner and put it back in."

The Mustangs increased their lead to 3-1 on a score in the 64th minute by Rodriguez, who was again assisted by Amoroso. Amoroso's lofted pass led Rodriguez into the 18-yard box. Rodriguez took a touch to the right, then sent a shot into the left side of the goal.

"We don't even need to communicate," Rodriguez said about playing with Amoroso. "The defender kind of pushed me off to the right and I saw the goalkeeper come out so I flicked it over him."

Reach Leila Wai at 535-2457 or lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.

INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE OF HONOLULU

BOYS VARSITY

'IOLANI 3, SAINT LOUIS 0

Goals—'Iol: Nick Goo 2, Keith Lum.

KAMEHAMEHA 1, PAC-FIVE 0

Goal—KS: Noah Ogata.

PUNAHOU 2, MID-PACIFIC 0

Goals—Pun: Christian Patmont, Sean Hungerford.

O'AHU INTERSCHOLASTIC ASSOCIATION

RED EAST CONFERENCE

BOYS VARSITY

ROOSEVELT 2, CASTLE 0

Goals—Roos: Brad Pena, Dwayne Iwamoto.

KALANI 3, KAISER 1

Goals—Kaln: Yoshinori Tamaki, Reace Hinazumi, Danny Higa. Kais: Junior Santos.

KALAHEO 3, MOANALUA 1

Goals—Kalh: Jonathan Rodriguez 2, Joshua Amoroso. Moa: Alex Colby.

GIRLS VARSITY

CASTLE 0, ROOSEVELT 0

KAISER 1, KALANI 1

Goals—Kais: Tasha Rieta. Kaln: Tani Costa.

MOANALUA 6, KALAHEO 0

Goals—Moa: Tiana Fujimoto 2, Lexi Jones, Jennifer Blakeley, Sarah Nagamine, Basia Otto.

GIRLS JV

Castle 1, Roosevelt 0.

Kaiser 2, Kalani 0.

Moanalua 1, Kalaheo 0.