Dolphins, Friars end friendlies in stalemate

The Marianas High School Dolphins and Guam’s Father Duenas Memorial School Friars ended their friendly soccer match in a 0-0 stalemate last Wednesday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

In a first of its kind, boys high school soccer champions in their respective school leagues faced off for a chance at the perpetual trophy.

The Dolphins recently won the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Boys High School Soccer League 2023-2024 championship against Saipan International School, while the Friars won the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam championship against the Harvest Christian Academy Eagles last December.

Lawrence E. Camacho, Public School System Athletics Program coordinator, said the competition was good, but unfortunately MHS player Paul Lizama was injured. Other than that, both teams played with everything they got and showed off why both teams were champions in their home islands.

Camacho said that the Friars reached out to the PSS Athletics Program to coordinate the friendly match, and with the help of the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association, made it happen.

The MHS roster consisted of Terell Hix-Kileleman, Isiah Hossain, Mark Costales, Leland Deleon Guerrero, Anthony Bergancia, Paul Lizama, Zhi Xiang Lin, Wataru Kadokura, Tyler Omelau, Andrew Sablan, Emerson Brillo, Cody Shimizu, Kristoffer Pascual, Pritom Sen, Jereme Quimzon, Minul Hoque, Takeru Jim, Rooney Gil, Espiritu Prince and Shakir Takir. Their coach is Don Cabrera.

The Father Duenas Memorial School roster was made up of Jacob Toves, Landon Miles, Beau Perez, Samuel Stenson, Sean Halehale, Gio DeVera, Donovan Moss, Erwin Manibusan, Ian Dickson, Kian Rivera, Nicolas Chargualaf, Arthur Manglona, Aaron Lupola, Malcolm Ogo, Mason Manibusan and Kaynin McIntosh. They are coached by Guam’s Chief Justice Robert Torres.

Although the match ended in a tie, the perpetual trophy went home to Guam. The PSS Athletics Program hopes there will be another friendly match between Guam in the future.