Dragon daily double, first time Kubasaki’s boys and girls teams have reached the Class AA Soccer Tournament championship matches since 2004. And only the second time in school history; they each won the 2002 titles, while losing the 2004 finals each to Kadena.

Thursday’s American School In Japan-Seoul American girls semifinals painfully teaches thee one certain truth – practice your penalty kicks. Three were called in Thursday’s matchup. Seoul made one and missed one. Morgan Bridgman of ASIJ hit the clincher. Final score, 3-2 ASIJ.

Talk about picking the right time to get your first goal of the season. Kubasaki junior Alexis Salmon, better known for her defense, also revealed she has a strong right foot, capable of turning opposing defenses into piles of mush. That deadly overhead shot on free kicks, the first one clanged off the cross bar and back-spun into the net; the second found Rina Ihu open in the middle for a goal. Final score: 3-0 Kubasaki over Kadena.

Shut down Leo Kobayashi and his 26 goals and you’ve beaten CAJ? Hardly. While Kobayashi didn’t score Tuesday or Wednesday, CAJ only lost one of four matches, and that a 1-0 Tuesday defeat against a Kadena team that the Knights soundly thrashed 4-0 in Thursday’s semifinal.

Word of advice to those who’d face Kubasaki’s boys on Friday: Mark Jacob Hess. Or at least turn a fire hose on him. The guy’s got 12 goals in seven matches thus far in the Class AA Tournament. Man, that’s hot. So Hong Kong International discovered in a 3-0 semifinal loss to the Dragons.

Ornauer goes out on a limb here: Boys, Kubasaki 3, CAJ 2. Girls, Kubasaki 2, ASIJ 1.