U15 Team settles for loss, draw in EAFF Champs

The NMI U15 Women’s National Soccer Team settled for a loss and a draw in their first two games of the EAFF Fifa Forward Programme EAFF U15 Women’s Championship 2024 in Dalian, China.

Last Friday, the NMI team made their debut in the tourney against Macau and came up short, 1-2.

Both teams were equally matched in the first half as they tried to control the majority of the possession. Then, Macau broke the ice first in the 17th minute from a goal by Hio Cheng Tou to put them up, 1-0.

Macau’s early goal led to a gain of confidence in their plays which led to short falls by the NMI. However, the NMI’s Aubrey White knotted the match up in the 35th minute for a 1-1 game.

It was then a race to score the tie-breaking goal and to keep the lead as both teams scrambled for the upper hand. Missed opportunities from both sides kept the game tied at one a piece until the 61st minute when Macau’s Sam Io Lok let one fly past NMI keeper Hailey Benavente.

The match ended, 2-1, in favor of Macau as NMI failed to tie it up once more.

Then, last Saturday, NMI faced off against Mongolia and settled for a scoreless draw, 0-0.

NMI strikers could not find the back of the net throughout the match, while Benavente ensured Mongolia didn’t find their way to their goal as well. After a lot of back and forth and exchanges, the match ended in a scoreless draw to give NMI a 0-1-1, win-draw-loss record so far in the tourney.

Today, the NMI is taking on Hong Kong, China, with results to be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.

The NMI team is in Group B with Hong Kong, Guam, Mongolia, and Macau.

The Team is made up of Hailey Benavente, Alyssa Borlongan, Mataina Reyes, Elyza Brillo, Jade Pascual, Orica George, Aira Daca, Cassidee Flores, Beatrice Gross, Angel Calayag, Alyssa Brasuell, Stacy Arriola, Miley Mafnas, Iris Rasa, Talina Aguon-Mcclure, Aubrey White, Va’aina Reyes, Rhodalyn Zandueta, Maya Jung, and Kaye Anne Costales.

The Mongolian team was made up of Michidmaa Munkhbold, Erdenechimeg Ulambayar, Purevsuren Myagmar, Ariunzaya Ganbaatar, Suvanisizida Khayankhyarvaa, Ganbolor Tumenjargal, Munkhzul Bayanmunkh, Tselmuun Batsaikhan, Amin-Erdene Ariunaa, Sodgerel Sergelenbaatar, Zolzaya Khatanbaatar, Egshiglen Sainbuyan, Namgilmaa Davaadorj, Undrakh-Erdene Gandorj, Otgonzaya Batsaikhan, Dulguun Tuvshinjargal, Chimeg-Erdene Javzansuren, Enkhsaruul Otgonbayar, Chinzul Altankhuyag, and Enguun Oidovgun.

The Macau team consisted of Weng Lam Chong, Ka Io Lok, Keng Chi Iong, Tin Lam Chan, Pui Ka Un, Hio Cheng Tou, Claveria Jeanne B. De Vera Carter, Sam Io Lok, Pui Kei Un, Sam In Jocelyn Ho, Hoi Lam Tong, Weng Io Chan, Si Tong Che, Hoi Lam Chan, Hoi Lam Kuan, Chi Wa Si Tou, U Cheng Tam, I Tong Choi, Man Weng Ng, and Lok I Leong.