MHS, SIS to contend for boys soccer title

Marianas High School Dolphins and Saipan International School Geckos are contending for the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Boys High School Soccer League 2023-2024 championship after defeating their foes in the semis last Tuesday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

The Dolphins, in a run to defend their title, came barging onto the pitch with lightning agility and quickly buried the Mount Carmel School Knights, 9-3.

MHS’ Cody Shimizu got a foothold of the ball and didn’t let go until he scored in the fourth minute, but the Knights’ Markus Toves evened it up right after.

After the Knights’ goal, they went on to be silenced by the Dolphins as Shimizu, Andrew Sablan, Paul Lizama, and Anthony Bergancia scored a goal each in the first half for a 5-1 lead.

The Knights made for a rally in the second half but the adrenaline and pressure probably got to them as they scored in their own goal to put the Dolphins up, 6-1. They made up for it by scoring two goals by the 52nd minute, but the Dolphins were just keeping the goals coming and had a huge lead before time ran out.

Bergancia, Shimizu, and Lizama went on to score three more goals to wrap up the game at 9-3.

The Geckos’ game against Saipan Southern High School Manta Rays on the other hand, ended in a thriller penalty shootout, 5-4.

Regulation ended, 1-1, scored by SSHS’ Mark Patubo and SIS’ Ian Song, respectively, and both teams went to work in extra time.

Both teams took turns scoring, but the Geckos’ Andrew Chung grabbed the last goal and clinched the semis spot for SIS.

This afternoon, the Dolphins and Geckos are set to face off at 5:30pm after the third-place match between the Manta Rays and the Knights.