Kanoa, MP United bags U14 girls/boys title

Kanoa Football Club bagged the U14 girls championship, while MP United FC clinched the U14 boys title after the finals of the TakeCare Youth Soccer League Spring 2024 last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

The U14 Kanoa squad was mostly made up of the U17 team that also took home the title in that division. Unsurprisingly, the team’s chemistry, teamwork, and skill brought home the title for Kanoa again—this time in the U14 division.

They took down Shirley’s, 6-3. Aubrey White and Beatrice Gross’ cleats were ball magnets as they once again led Kanoa to another championship.

Within five minutes, Gross scored one, while White scored two for an early 3-0 lead. Before Shirley’s could respond, Gross tied White with a goal in the eighth minute for a 4-0 game.

Shirley’s had enough and within a minute, Darshwana Chhetri found the back of the net to get them on board, 1-4. Chhetri took it into her own hands to nip away at Kanoa’s lead, and another minute later, scored their second goal to cut the lead in half, 2-4.

However, Kanoa’s power duo of White and Gross weren’t done yet as White finished the hat-trick in the 14th minute to put them up by three, 5-2. Gross quickly followed suit and in the blink of an eye, she completed her hat-trick for a 6-2 game.

The rest of the first half slipped away quietly as Shirley’s tried to get their bearings and get back in the game. Kanoa was finally silent and another goal by Shirley’s made by Princess Gariguez gave them a glimmer of hope for a comeback as the lead was once again cut in half. But, it was too little too late as time ran out before they could hack away again.

White was awarded the Golden Boot with the most goals of the season in the U14 girls division.

On Kanoa’s team with Gross and White were Yelynn Ha, Elikristiana Iglecias, Gabriella Mitchell, Trisha Abuan, Faith Arriola, Rhodalyn Zandueta, Phynix Nogis, Quiara Sanchez, and Hayven Moteisu.

In the U14 boys title showdown, MP United took down Latte FC, 4-2.

MP United thought they would have a quiet path to victory, but Latte came to life in the second half. Before then however, MP United’s dynamic duo Landon Springer and Taiga Namai-Scoggins were on a tear.

By the 16th minute, Springer had scored two goals, while Namai-Scoggins netted one for a 3-0 lead.

The towering lead didn’t deter Latte from putting up a fight though and it was only a matter of time before they found an opening. Reprieve came in the 37th minute by Napu Pangelinan as he scored the first goal for Latte. They were still down by two goals and within four minutes, Springer kicked off his hat-trick to put the lead back up to three, 4-1.

Latte then rushed to and fro to find any break in MP United’s defense, when Kian Estolas halved the lead, 2-4 in the 49th. However, as time ran out, MP United held on to their narrow lead and clinched the title.

Namai Scoggins was awarded the Golden Boot with the most goals of the season in the U14 girls division.

With Springer and Namai-Scoggins in the MP United team were Theo Joab, Kanoa Owens, Yutaro Kitagawa, Quido Jambor, Ezekiel Babauta, Landon Pudney, Xavier Camacho, Minato Takahashi, Mateo Angeles, Kimason Cabrera, Ian Ahn, and Izeiah Deleon Guerrero.

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