Finals rematch ends in 1-1 draw

It was a thrilling start to the 2024-2025 NMIFA-PSS Girls Middle School Interscholastic Soccer League as championship rivals—defending champions Hopwood Middle School Hilitais and Saipan International School Geckos—locked horns last Tuesday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

Despite a rocky start for the Hilitais, they caught a break toward the end for a 1-1 draw.

SIS took advantage of a penalty kick from a hand-ball blunder in the box by HMS’ Alina Esakova, and made it 1-0 in the 17th minute by Beatrice Gross. From there, both teams’ tactics and attacks came up empty as the match went on without another goal.

A few quick attempts at the net by Gross later in the match nearly put SIS up by a few more goals, but HMS keeper Hayven Moteisou stood her ground and denied them entry to give them a fighting chance.

Then, Esakova redeemed herself in the 43rd minute with a goal after two attempts at the net to knot it all up, 1-1. Neither team could draw up the winning goal as time expired and the first match of the season ended in a tie.

HMS assistant coach Connie Camacho said that their team this year consists of younger players, including Moteisou. She said with their first game, “since we matched up with the runner-up SIS, we have a good chance of competing again just like last year.”

She added, “We have some returnees but they weren’t starters from last year, and we have a few 6th graders. We also have some inexperienced players, but they can run—they have speed and they can defend. They just need to be more familiarized with the rules of soccer.”

With Esakova and Moteisou on the team are Anica Aquino, Grace Arkoh, Vanessa Bayog, Elyza Brillo, Angel Calayag, Aubyguel Castro, Althea De Belen, Alyza De Belen, Samantha Escarcha, Franchesca Ferrer, Princess Gariguez, and Hannah Li.

The head coach is Dominic Tudela, who also coaches HMS’ junior varsity basketball team.

In the other game that day, Francisco M. Sablan Middle School Napu Riders took down Chacha Ocean View Middle School Lancherus, 3-1.

Shy’Annalie Mallens scored FMS’ two goals by the 24th minute, while Rica Taitano got COVMS on the board with a goal in the 28th. However, the Napu Riders’ Phangwadee Claridades made a sure-fire goal in the 33th minute as COVMS could not close the gap and lost, 1-3.