Final 4 set for ES soccer playoffs

The stage is set as William S. Reyes Elementary School, Garapan Elementary School, San Vicente Elementary School, and Koblerville Elementary School are the Final 4 teams of the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Elementary School Soccer League 2023-2024.

WSR Kingfishers made light work of Grace Christian Academy Eagles, 5-1, for the first semifinals spot last Wednesday at the NMI Soccer Training Center.

Imran Kamal stole the show as he completed a hat-trick for the Kingfishers just 27 minutes into the game. Before him, Xander Binghit drew first blood in the 6th minute for a 4-1 lead over the Eagles.

The lone goal for the Eagles was made by Chloe Sariol in the 21st minute. The Kingfishers’ Darshwana Chhetri scored the fifth goal in the 28th minute as the Eagles went on to be scoreless for the rest of the game.

GES Mallards grabbed the second semifinals spot after trouncing once undefeated Kagman Elementary School Blue Marlins, 4-1. The Mallards sank the Blue Marlins’ contention hopes after their defense shut them down throughout the game.

The Blue Marlins’ only goal was made in the ninth minute by Astrid Masiwemai to even up the game, 1-1 after GES’ Andrey Rey’s goal in the sixth. However, the Mallards went on to score three more unanswered goals—two by Jacob Borja and one by Athitaya Saukan—for the win.

The SVES 2 Canaries heavily defeated Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School Binadus, 6-1. The Canaries’ Zayne Reyes and Amaru Younis made it 2-0 by the eighth minute. After a case of mistaken identity, GTC scored in their own goal to give SVES a 3-0 lead.

Back-to-back goals by Derek Teregeyo and Reyes made the game 5-0 by the 30th minute. The only goal for GTC was made by Caysa Marchadesch two minutes later, but it was too little too late as the Canaries took the win with one more goal by Reyes to complete the hat-trick in the 35th minute.

In the final game, KobES Umangs upset erstwhile undefeated Saipan International School Geckos, 3-1, for the last semifinals spot via penalties.

The Geckos drew first blood in the 11th minute from a goal by XingChen Wang, but that was all they wrote as the Umangs tied up the game by way of Alexander Aveira just two minutes later.

Both teams couldn’t find a way past the other’s goalie and resulted in penalty kicks later for the Umangs who scored two for the win.

The semis are set for today at 4pm and 5pm, with the finals scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30pm.