GTC, Whispering Palms/Brilliant Star split games

Gregorio T. Camacho and Whispering Palms/Brilliant Star debuted in the Inaugural 2008 NMIFA U12 Interscholastic Football League and split their games Wednesday at the GTC Field in San Roque.

The girls’ team of the GTC Deer played first and defeated the combined team of Whispering Palms and Brilliant Star, 1-0.

Clea San Nicolas scored the lone game in the match in the first half.

The two teams played in two halves with each half lasting for 20 minutes.

GTC is coached by CNMI Women’s National team member Lindsay Davis and the Deer has 11 players on its roster.

Joining San Nicolas on the team are Alaysia Wallace, Alexa San Nicolas, Alice Agulto, Ann Ravell, Brittany Luzama, Carmanda Camacho, Chelsea Leskosek, Elizabeth Basa, Maelyn Maratita, and Devanie Nicole Camacho.

Calling the shots for Whispering Palms/Brilliant Star is Davis’ teammate in the CNMI Women’s National Team, Brenda Schultz.

Whispering Palms/Brilliant Star is composed of Lucy Ha, Nishta Thomas, Nava Khorram, Kristina Folta, Gabriele Race, Phalai Frink, Nicole Arenovski, Megan Yost, and Neghar Rastguiy.

Schultz is also the coach of the boys’ team of Whispering Palms/Brilliant Star’ and her wards foiled a GTC sweep after nailing a 2-1 victory.

Whispering Palms/Brilliant Star made the first goal in the game with Harrison Hill on the connecting end, chasing the ball after a Kenyon Schultz’s miss in the first half.

Whispering Palms/Brilliant Star had several chances to score more goals in the first half with Danny and John Auther attacking the GTC defense, but the Auther siblings missed their targets.

GTC also had many opportunities to score goals, but Whispering Palms/Brilliant Star goalie Colin Ramsey had a couple of saves, before folding up in the closing minutes if the first half allowing the host to tie the game.

Whispering Palms/Brilliant Star escaped with a win after Kennedy Izuka made a header on a Kenyon Shultz’s assist in the last 30 seconds of the match.

In other results, San Antonio Elementary School defeated Oleai Elementary School, 3-2, in the girls division, while the Octopus and the Turtles had a 1-1 draw in the boys division.

The San Antonio-Oleai games were played in the former’s home field.

Other results from Wednesday’s games were unavailable at press time.

William S. Reyes Elementary School dueled Dandan Elementary School A at the San Vicente Elementary School Field, while Tanapag Elementary School hosted Saipan International School.

The inaugural U12 league has 17 teams competing for the championship. The participating teams are divided into two divisions.

Northern Group is composed of Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, Garapan Elementary School, Kagman Elementary School, Whispering Palms, Eucon, Saipan International School, and Tanapag Elementary School.

The Southern Group has Dandan Elementary School A and B, Saipan Community School, William S. Reyes School, Koblerville Elementary School, San Vicente Elementary School, San Antonio Elementary School, and Oleai Elementary School.

Games in the U12 league are played every Wednesday with the girls division match starting at 3:15pm. Game time for the boys division is at 4pm.

The U12 league will have a single round-robin format in the regular season with the top two teams in each division advancing to the playoffs.