Kanoa teams superior again in U17 finals

Kanoa Football Club’s two U17 teams are the top dogs once again in the TakeCare Youth Soccer League Fall as they clinched the 2024 titles last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

Both teams were champions in the TakeCare Youth Soccer League Fall Spring 2024 season and it was the same old story this season.

Majority of the girls’ team were part of the U14 championship team and carried their winning ways into the older division as they blanked MP United FC, 4-0.

It was a quiet first half as both teams were evenly matched and were unable to penetrate each other’s defenses. They played the pitch from end to end with no result until the 35th minute when Elikristiana Iglecias found the back of the net to open the game up.

MPU tried to regroup and get something going as the clock winded down, but couldn’t find an opening. Kanoa then quickly doubled their advantage in the 44th from a goal by Aubrey White.

From there, Kanoa established their dominance from another goal by White in the 56th, and wrapped it up with their fourth and final goal just two minutes later.

Aside from Iglecias and White, Kanoa’s U17 girls team was also made up of Faith Arriola, Joselynn Atalig, Cali Jade Cabrera, Julie Chavez, Beatrice Gross, Ye Lynn Ha, Rhiana Macalinao, Miley Mafnas, Alejandra Manabat, Hayven Moteisou, Phynix Nogis, and Quiara Sanchez.

The Golden Boot Award went once again to Kanoa’s ball magnet—Beatrice Gross—who was the awardee in the U14 division, and Ye Lynn Ha who both had 17 goals each.

Third place went to Paire Football Club after Shirley’s FC forfeited the match.

In the boys division, Kanoa also beat their foe MPU in a close matchup. 2-1.

Both teams clashed with an aggressive start to the finals and Kanoa gained the upper hand early with a goal by Paul Lizama just six minutes in.

A long drawn-out battle ensued with neither team being able to break through the keepers’ fortifications. The first half came and went with still a 1-0 Kanoa lead until Lizama broke the silence with another goal to put them up, 2-0.

When it seemed as though MPU was unable to get on board, Casey Chambers slotted one in the back end of the game to make it 1-2. However, that was all MPU wrote as they failed to tie it up and handed the championships to Kanoa once again.

The Golden Boot Award was shared in this division too, this time between Matansa’s Jayvin Bisek of Matansa Football Club and Kanoa’s Paul Lizama with 13 goals each.

Kanoa’s U17 boys team consisted of Zuriel Abejo, Damien Concepcion, Donehvyn Fejeran, Rooney Gil, Izeah Jolo, Paul Lizama, Yuxi Lu, Adrian Lubao, Ronald Manabat, Akoni Matsumoto, Christian Negara, Tyler Omelau, John Quidato, Taher Shakir, Arstin Tagabuel, Jayson Tagabuel, Maximus Taitano, Eamon Tang, Aiden Wesley, and David Xing.

Third place was Matansa FC which overpowered the Women’s Development Team, 7-0.

Article by Leigh Gases

Saipan Tribune