Kanoa FC clinches U17 girls/boys titles

Kanoa Football Club’s U17 girls and U17 boys teams clinched the championships in their respective divisions after the finals of the TakeCare Youth Soccer League Spring 2024 last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

The girls went full throttle against MP United FC and won, 8-2.

Despite an early start by MP United’s Addalee Taflinger who got them on board just one minute in, Kanoa’s strikers could not be contained later in the match.

MP United enjoyed their one goal lead until the 19th minute when Kanoa’s Aubrey White found the back of the net and tied it up, 1-1. It was the beginning of an influx of goals for Kanoa as they found their groove.

Ye Lynn Ha added one in the 23rd minute to take the lead, 2-1, for Kanoa. Before MP United could reply, Beatrice Gross tacked on another one for a 3-1 game in the 26th minute. MP United then quickly responded a minute later as Cassie Regan scored their second goal for still a close 2-3 game.

However, White doubled the lead once again in the 29th after the team’s fourth goal in the first half alone for a 4-2 matchup.

MP United tried to regroup and stop the bleeding by putting up tougher defenses, but Kanoa’s offense opened up the floodgates and it was too late to stop them from scoring more. Later in the 36th minute, White completed the hat-trick, and was immediately followed up by a goal two minutes later by teammate Elikristiana Iglecias to lead, 6-2.

Gross went on to complete her own hat-trick as she scored the team’s 7th and 8th goal within three minutes of each other. MP United conceded as the lead was too big to catch up to, and handed the championship to Kanoa.

With Gross, White, Ha, and Iglecias were Julie Chavez, Joselynn Atalig, Miley Mafnas, Faith Arriola, Rhodalyn Zandueta, Alejandra Manabat, Phynix Nogis, Quiara Sanchez, and Hayven Moteisu.

In the boys division, Kanoa won in extra time after they were tied up, 1-1, with Latte in regulation.

Kanoa’s arsenal of strikers dug their cleats in and went to work as all five goals went through to take the championship.

Adrian Lubao, Christian Negara, Akoni Matsumoto, Izeah Jolo, and Paul Lizama scored for Kanoa, while Latte missed one out of four shots at the net. Mark Costales, Monico Claridades, and Zhi Xiang Lin scored the three goals for Latte.

In regulation, Kanoa had the 1-0 advantage in the 11th minute after a goal by Lizama, but Latte’s Lin tied it up in the 29th. The match was evenly matched throughout as regulation ended in a stalemate, with Kanoa eventually coming in clutch with their penalties.

On Kanoa’s roster with Lubao, Negara, Matsumoto, Jolo, and Lizama were Zuriel Abejo, David Xing, D’artagnan Enerio, Maximus Taitano, Tyler Omelau, John Quidato, Rooney Gil, Jayson Tagabuel, Arstin Tagabuel, Yuxi Lu, Aiden Wesley, Taher Shakir, and Eamon Tang.

Results of the U14 and U12 championships will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.