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NMIFA women kick up mud at the AMP
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Posted on Oct 29 2006
The ladies of the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association endured soaking rain, a sloppy field, and steamy conditions at the American Memorial Park to thrill their fans on Saturday as the Women’s League continued on the Garapan pitch.
UMDA Hot Salsa was incredible in the opening game against the Saipan Grand Hotel Mamma Mia’s, as the ladies in red held off a late rally by their purple-clad challengers after the rain let up in the second half.
Strikers Emily Gries and Elisa Long were ablaze and coach Jaime Saiki kept the fires stoked with fresh runners like Melisa Halaby, while Patricia Coleman played between the pipes for the first time.
The Mamma Mia’s looked like they would tie the game at one apiece when Grace Villagracia ripped a shot in the goal box but her drive hammered the crossbar and bounced back to the waiting defenders.
The Grand girls went scoreless through the first 25 minutes of play until last year’s standout Sarah Helbert produced again by scoring her second goal in as many games toward the end of the second half. Unfortunately for the purple and white, the Mamma Mia’s were unable to bridge the gap and fell one goal shy in Villagracia’s final game of the season.
Marianas Eye Institute Eye Ballers 2, Fiesta Resort and Spa Femme Fatales 2
Morgan Rose rose to the occasion on Saturday to help the Fiesta Resort and Spa Femme Fatales salvage a 2-2 tie against the Marianas Eye Institute Eye Ballers in the second game of the day.
After Becca Rath and Divya Sharma gave the Eye Ballers a 2-0 lead in the first half, Rose scampered all across the field making plays and twice found the back of the net to even the score at two apiece.
Teammate Brenda Schultz was relentless on the pitch as she ran the right side with an iron fist, albeit a pink one, while Rose ruled the center and left. Cathy Perry-Anderson and Betty Johnson played dominating defense in the second half and rarely allowed the Eye Ballers a scoring chance.
The first half belonged to the Eye Ballers as the blue crew took what seemed to be a commanding two-goal lead but the pink-powered Femme Fatales persevered to defend their growing reputation as one of the league’s top teams.
