Paradise In Cleats win 2008 women’s league

Pacific Islands Club’s Paradise In Cleats captain Brenda Schultz booted her team to the championship of the 2008 Women’s Recreational Spring Football League after scoring the marginal goal in overtime against Matt Smith’s Smithereens last Saturday at the CPA Airport Field.

After both teams finished the 80-minute game all tied up at 1-1, Shultz found the back of the net following a strong penalty kick in the five-minute mark of the first 15-minute overtime.

It was Schultz’s second goal of the game.

In the second 15-minute extension, a major offensive attempt was made by the Smithereens as they surged past the PIC defense and were well within the 18-yard line before a gutsy save by PIC’s Noi Horey thwarted the near scoring of the Smithereens.

Paradise In Cleats then held the score to 2-1 finishing out the overtime and taking home the league’s perpetual trophy.

It was a sorry loss for Smithereens considering the team was the first to book a finals ticket last week. The team also was the first to score in the championship when a nifty pass by forward Maryana Gramlich resulted in a Nola Hix goal 20 minutes into the game.

Smithereens would hold onto a 1-0 lead until the 37-minute mark when Schultz let slip a rocket from 20 yards out that found the top right corner just pass the outstreched arms of Smithereens goalkeeper Maria Ornes.

The second half of the match then displayed the solid determination of both teams to prevent either side from scoring despite many shots taken by the teams, leading to the two 15-minute extensions.

In the battle for third, Wild Bill’s Wild Fire’s Lindsay Davis and Jamie Beavis scored in each of the halves to win second runner-up honors against Marianas Eye Spectacular Blues, 2-0.

In the first half, a pass from Patty Coleman to Davis resulted in a score by the latter. Wild Fire had another opportunity to score on a penalty kick resulting from a handball, but Davis’ penalty kick went wide.

In the second half, Beavis found the back the net for Wild Fire and the team then played stout defense against Spectacular the rest of the way to win the contest.

After the championship game an awards ceremony was held with Women’s Committee director Francine Sablan recognizing and thanking the Northern Mariana Islands Football Associaiton, sponsors, referees, and players for a great season.

Sablan also thanked the members of the Women’s Committee, namely Coleman, Davis, Ornes, Becca Newman, and Vanesa Pritchard for their support in organizing another successful season.

“It was a wonderful season. I am so impressed by the performance and positive attitudes of the players,” said Sablan.

NMIFA Executive Committee member Peter Coleman added that the NMIFA is very proud of the success of the Women’s Football Program.

The coveted Fair Play Award for the team with the best sportsmanship was awarded to the the Eye Spectacular Blues.

After recognizing each player on the team, the team captains recognized their Most Improved and Most Inspirational players.

Most Improved players were Chantelle Voutilainen (PIC), Wendy Rider, (Smithereens), Angie Mister (Wild Fire), and Amber Roberts (Spectacular Blues).

Players that won the Most Inspirational awards were Nicolette Seckeler (PIC), Ornes (Smithereens), Shauna Brown (Wild Fire), and Becca Newman (Spectacular Blues).

Sablan added that new to the 2008 Women’s Recreational Football League is the introduction of the perpetual trophy.

“Previous league champions from the past two years were included on the trophy and new champions, Paradise In Cleats, will be added to this notable list. The perpetual trophy will be held by the team’s sponsor Pacific Islands Club along with a photo of the team at PIC until the the Fall 2008 season,” she said.