WSR makes IFL semifinals

A William S. Reyes Elementary School defender, second from left, tries to catch up with a Garapan Elementary School player during the second half of their first round duel in the girls division of the 2015 NMIFA U12 Interscholastic Football League last Thursday at the GEC pitch. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Defending champion William S. Reyes Elementary School is one step away from a return trip to the finals in the girls division of the 2015 NMIFA U12 Interscholastic Football League.

WSR, which won last year’s championship against Garapan Elementary School, is currently in second place in the team standings in the Northern Group behind Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School. The Kingfishers improved to a 3-2-0 win-draw-loss record following its 3-1 win against Garapan last Thursday at the GEC pitch. GTC, on the other hand, owns a 4-1-0 card after a 5-0 victory against Oleai last Friday.

Only the Top 2 teams in the Northern Group will advance to the semifinals against the No. 1 and 2 finishers of the Southern Group. Hopwood Junior High School-2 leads the Southern Group with its immaculate 5-0-0 slate with its fifth win (5-0) recorded against San Antonio Middle School last week. Koblerville Elementary School is in second place with its 3-0-2 mark, while San Antonio and Hopwood-1 are at No. 3 and 4 with their 2-0-3 and 0-0-5 slates.

In the boys division, WSR is on top of the Northern Group after earning a 4-1-0 record with one game left in the double-round robin elimination. WSR, which placed second to Saipan International School in last year’s competition, notched its fourth win at the expense of GES, 1-0, last Wednesday.

Mt. Carmel School is in second place after bowing to WSR last Dec. 7, 0-1, but the Knights are likely to join the Kingfishers in the semifinals with their 3-0-2 mark, two wins ahead of the third-running GTC (1-1-3). Garapan is at the bottom of the team standings with its 0-2-3 record.

In the Southern Group, Hopwood-1 and San Antonio occupy the Top 2 spots. The Hilitais have a 4-1-0 slate and took the lead in the pool after a 3-0 victory against San Antonio last Thursday. San Antonio dropped to a second-best 3-1-1 record, but is in a good position for the second semis berth, as third placer Koblerville has only two wins in five games.

The semis matches in both the girls and boys divisions will be played this Thursday, while the last elimination round games will take place today.

In the girls division, WSR will take on GTC at the latter’s turf, while Garapan will host Oleai. Over in San Antonio, the Octopus will challenge Koblerville. The games at GTC and San Antonio will start at 4pm, while the Garapan match will behin at 4:30pm.

In the 5pm games in the boys division, WSR will duel GTC, while Koblerville will visit San Antonio. Over at the Navy Hill Field, the Mt. Carmel-Garapan pairing will start early at 4:30pm.