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Team effort behind women’s exhibition victory
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Posted on Aug 10 2008
The Women’s All-Stars beat the all-men Multinational FC squad in the second half of their exhibition game held during the Saipan Cup 2008 last Aug. 3 at the Oleai Sports Complex.
After getting blanked by Onwell in the first 35 minutes of action, the Women’s All-Stars—composed of regulars of the CNMI Women’s National Football Team—did a Billie Jean King on the game Multinational FC team with Lindsay Davis finding the back of the net for the exhibition half’s lone score.
National team captain Brenda Schultz applauded Davis’ goal but also congratulated the entire team for making it happen.
“Scoring goals against challenging teams is always very exciting. Lindsay did an excellent job staying onside, making a great run, calling for the ball, and then hitting the ball perfectly. It was a very exciting moment. And of course you can’t make these moments happen without excellent support and playing from the midfielders, defenders, and goalkeeper. Our goalkeeper Maria Ornes did a great job blocking shots from those men, while Becca ‘The Wall’ Newman did a great job for us in midfield,” she said.
Schultz also gave kudos to Multinational FC and all the men’s teams that have allowed the women to play in their leagues and tournaments.
“The men have been so generous to let us play in their tournaments. The men’s teams could all ‘no show’ to our games the way they are set up and yet they don’t. I applaud them for being so progressive and welcoming to the women. It really helps the women improve as a team on the field which in turn will make us more competitive in international events,” she said.
The Saipan International School teacher acknowledged that while winning an exhibition match—even if it’s just a half—is one of the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association women’s committee’s most cherished dreams, the bigger more fulfilling one is to be invited in the men’s league as a full-fledged entry.
“We appreciate their [men] hospitality very much. [But] We dream that one day we will be included as a regular team in the tournaments and be competitive. We want to keep growing and improving,” she said.
