Braydon Obrero does not lack for confidence. Not by a long shot. 

The Iolani junior's confidence came in handy Saturday night. Obrero, a third-year starting goalkeeper for the Raiders, registered eight total saves between the posts to help his team rally to a win over defending state champion Mililani in a match that went to a penalty kick shootout. 

Obrero made four saves over the course of 80 minutes of regulation plus three more in two 10-minute overtime periods before he came up with a crucial save to deny the Trojans' first shooter in PKs. 

"He made big saves for us to keep us in the game," Iolani coach Chris Lee. 

Not only did Obrero come up with a number of clutch stops between the posts, he also put away the Raiders' first attempt in the PK shootout. 

"Of course making that first save was huge. Braydon is like one of my sons — he's always over at my house — and he's always like, ‘Coach, I don't get my moment, I don't get my moment,' and I said, ‘Well, now's your moment,' and he made the most of it," Lee said. 

Iolani built upon the momentum Obrero generated and went on to win in PKs, 4-2. The result was the team's 11th state title and second in three years. In the process, the Raiders also avenged their loss to the Trojans in last year's state final. 

Obrero, to be sure, played a big part in the final result. 

"There was one shot in the game that, I think, Mililani took a shot and it deflected off one of our players and was going straight for the corner and he was able to make that save, so his reactions are phenomenal. He's pretty slender so he's not the most physical-looking guy, but he is extremely athletic and he's quick," Lee said. 

Lee noted that had Obrero's services not been required in goal, he would likely excel as a field player. 

"If he wasn't playing in goal, he would probably play somewhere up front. I mean, he's also very good on the field; He has really, really good foot skills," Lee said. 

He explained that Obrero started out as a ‘keeper in club soccer, but also saw a lot of time on the field. 

"He got away from playing in the goal until maybe, I want to say, eighth grade maybe, when he decided that he just wanted to be a goalie and just stuck in there, but in club he still plays out on the field a lot when they play in other games and leagues," Lee added. 

Part of Obrero's athleticism and lightning-quick instincts stems from the fact that he grew up boxing, with much of that influence coming from his mother. 

"I want to say boxing was his first sport. His mom was a boxer so that's why she got him into boxing, so I think that mentality and that confidence in himself — and he has really quick reactions — and I think that is attributed a lot to his boxing at a young age," Lee surmised. 

Obrero's confidence was evident in the aftermath of Mililani's go-ahead goal in the 22nd minute Saturday. He was the one that provided encouragement to his teammates to stay positive with more than 57 minutes of time remaining in the match. 

"Off the field he's a real easy-going guy and just a fun-loving kid. On the field he's extremely confident in himself and his abilities as a ‘keeper and I think that's the funny part about Braydon is just his confidence in himself. I mean, even with me or his club coaches he's always texting, ‘Can I play in the field?' or can I do this, so he's a player that I think gets along well with his coaches and just harassing you and bothering you, but in a fun way; You just kind of get a laugh," Lee said. 

As a freshman two years ago, Obrero served as a backup to starting goalkeeper Tanner Shum. However, Shum suffered an injury during the football season last year, which thrust Obrero into the starting role. 

"Because our defense has been pretty stingy, he doesn't always get a lot of action in goal sometimes, so part of us preparing him was making sure that he's focused and ready to make those saves when we need him to and I think he's matured in that sense from last year to this year. He didn't give up any soft goals or easy goals, per se, because of a lack of focus," Lee expressed. 

Avoiding those lapses in focus can be easier said than done for any goalkeeper, Lee cautioned. 

"I guess that's one of the hardest things as a ‘keeper. You might not face a lot of action throughout the whole game, but then you're called upon in certain instances to make those plays," Lee said. 

Obrero plays with an aggressiveness that translates to him sometimes playing 40-plus yards off his line at times when the Raiders possess the ball in their attacking third. 

In Friday's semifinal win over Campbell, Obrero was whistled for a foul after a minor collision with a Sabers' forward. A few seconds later, he was also given a yellow card for a brief skirmish. All of it speaks to the type of competitor Obrero is, Lee said. 

"Sure, I mean, sometimes he's too confident with the ball and it did get him into trouble a little bit his sophomore year and maturity-wise and even in practice he gets distracted or sometimes bored and we try to keep him focused, so it's always a check and balance and it comes with the territory with Braydon. We've had to kind of work through it and make sure that he understands what the team needs from him," Lee shared. 

Obrero made four saves in the win over Campbell. Following the completion of Saturday night's title match, Obrero was one of four Raiders selected to the all-tournament team. 

Iolani allowed only five goals all season with all but one coming off of restarts. 

"I'm just really proud of how the team went through the season and we were able to score a lot more goals than we have in the past and our defense was pretty stout again this year. The goal by Mililani was probably the only goal that was off the run of play, so it was a pretty, I would say standout performance by our defense," Lee said. 

Among those he heaped praise onto was the starting backline of center-backs Kekama Kane, Nathaniel Shuai, outside-backs Nicholas Moses and Austin Ancheta, along with holding-mid Dan Arima. 

"It wasn't just those guys, it was the whole team and even at a certain point, we had some other starters and so I think it was the competition in practice for playing time that pushed them to keep working and improving so I'm just proud of how they adjusted in the state tournament and we hadn't had to make as many adjustments in the ILH season just because of how the season was going, so it was good to see on their part," Lee said. 

Obrero, like Chris Lee's son, Devin — who was selected as the most outstanding player of the state tournament — is a junior, meaning he will be in Chris Lee's hair for at least another year and likely beyond. 

"I never know when he's gonna show up at my house and say, ‘Uncle, I'm sleeping over tonight,' " coach Lee laughed. "He just shows up and it's like, ‘OK, alright, as long as your mom knows you're sleeping over.' That's what is kind of special for me right now is the different connection I have with these kids coaching and competing with and against my son's friends. It's on a different level because you know them and it makes it even more enjoyable. With Braydon, like I said, he's like one of my sons."

The Raiders completed the year with a 12-0-1 record under Lee, who aside from a one-year leave of absence, has been head coach of the program since 2004. They posted a 9-0-1 mark in the ILH and won their third league crown in as many years. 

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